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UniSA's Prof Phil Howlett (left) and Prof David Panton (right)
discuss Project 12 with Rail CRC student Ms Amie Albrecht.
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The aim of this project was to develop software tools that could be
used in both operational and planning environments to facilitate
the integration of track maintenance and crew scheduling activities
with the process of generating train plans. By considering train,
crew and maintenance scheduling as an integrated process, the
outcomes of this project work were to significantly reduce indirect
cost transfers between these processes.
This project included the development of experimental software
called PPOD (Possession Plans on Demand), which integrates the
creation of train timetables and track maintenance schedules. PPOD
can be used as an add-in module for Project 20's TPOD (Train Plans
On Demand) technology, which is being commercialised by TMG Rail
Technology Pty Ltd.
Another part of the project involved the development of strategies
for integrating the Master Cyclic Roster with the Master Train
Plan. A heuristic method was developed that uses TPOD to generate
several good master train plans for integration with crew rosters.
The project was completed in June 2005. The major benefits for
industry include:
- Reduced transit times (potential to improve productivity of the
network and reduce crewing and associated rostering costs).
- Opportunities to increase business.
- Reduced maintenance costs through more efficient schedule of
maintenance.
- Enhanced crew scheduling.
While there is expected to be significant customisation of the
technology before it is used within industry, independent
evaluation by STEM Partnerships in 2006 estimated its potential
risk-free-value at $106.4 million over the next 15 years. Taking
into account risks associated with delivering the technology, the
project is estimated to return a value of $52.3 million to the
industry.
Results:
- Development of prototype software for integrating track maintenance
with train planning.
- Development of methods for integrating crew rostering with train
planning.
- Commercialisation of the software in a package with TPOD (Project
20).
Project Leader: Professor David Panton (University of South
Australia)
Project Manager: Mr Ian Dall (Queensland Rail)
