Multi-objective systems and methods for optimally assigning train blocks at a railroad merchandise yard

A method by a computing system for assigning train blocks at a railroad merchandise yard, the computing system including one or more processors configured to execute computer program instructions, the method comprising:

• spawning a first computer process configured to execute a first set of computer program instructions of the computer program instructions to perform a first set of steps of the method for assigning train blocks at the railroad merchandise yard;
• spawning, concurrently with the spawning of the first computer process, a second computer process configured to execute a second set of computer program instructions of the computer program instructions to perform a second set of steps of the method for assigning train blocks at the railroad merchandise yard;
• accessing historical train block volume data;
• determining, using a first optimization model and the historical train block volume data, a first list of train block assignments for a plurality of train blocks and a plurality of classification tracks of a classification bowl;
• determining whether a volume of the plurality of train blocks is greater than a total available track length of the plurality of classification tracks;
• in response to determining that the volume of the plurality of train blocks is not greater than the total available track length of the plurality of classification tracks, displaying the first list of train block assignments generated by the first optimization model on an electronic display;
• and
• in response to determining that the volume of the plurality of train blocks is greater than the total available track length of the plurality of classification tracks:
• determining, using a second optimization model and the historical train block volume data, a second list of train block assignments for the plurality of train blocks and the plurality of classification tracks;
• and
• displaying the second list of train block assignments generated by the second optimization model on the electronic display.

One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to spawn a first computer process configured to execute a first set of instructions from the instructions to perform a first set of operations for assigning train blocks at a railroad merchandise yard and to spawn a second computer process configured to execute a second set of instructions from the instructions to perform a second set of program steps for the assigning train blocks at the railroad merchandise yard, wherein the first computer process and the second computer process are spawned concurrently, and wherein operations of the first set of operations and the second set of operations include:

• accessing historical train block volume data;
• determining, using a first optimization model and the historical train block volume data, a first list of train block assignments for a plurality of train blocks and a plurality of classification tracks of a classification bowl;
• determining whether a volume of the plurality of train blocks is greater than a total available track length of the plurality of classification tracks;
• in response to determining that the volume of the plurality of train blocks is not greater than the total available track length of the plurality of classification tracks, displaying the first list of train block assignments generated by the first optimization model on an electronic display;
• and
• in response to determining that the volume of the plurality of train blocks is greater than the total available track length of the plurality of classification tracks:
• determining, using a second optimization model and the historical train block volume data, a second list of train block assignments for the plurality of train blocks and the plurality of classification tracks;
• and
• displaying the second list of train block assignments generated by the second optimization model on the electronic display.