Time-space network based multi-objective systems and methods for optimal rail car stacking 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 including instructions to implement one or more of at least a portion of a first optimization model and at last a portion of a second optimization model;
• spawning, concurrently with the spawning of the first computer process, a second computer process configured to execute a second set of computer program instructions including instructions to implement one or more of the at least a portion of the first optimization model and the at last a portion of the second optimization model;
• accessing outbound train schedule data;
• determining, using the first optimization model and the outbound train schedule data, a first list of train block assignments for a planning horizon;
• after determining the first list of train block assignments using the first optimization model, determining whether an unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model is greater than zero, wherein the unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model indicates a number of train blocks that remain unassigned to a classification track after using the first optimization model to determine the first list of train block assignments;
• in response to determining that the unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model is not greater than zero, displaying the first list of train block assignments generated by the first optimization model on an electronic display;
• in response to determining that the unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model is greater than zero:
• determining, using the second optimization model and the outbound train schedule data, a second list of train block assignments for the planning horizon;
• and
• displaying the second list of train block assignments generated by the second optimization model on the electronic display;
• wherein the first and second lists of train block assignments each comprise:
• a plurality of classification tracks of a classification bowl;
• a plurality of time periods of the planning horizon;
• and
• one or more of a plurality of train blocks that are assigned to each classification track for each time period of the planning horizon.

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 computer program instructions including instructions to implement one or more of at least a portion of a first optimization model and at last a portion of a second optimization model, and to spawn a second computer process configured to execute a second set of computer program instructions including instructions to implement one or more of the at least a portion of the first optimization model and the at last a portion of the second optimization model, 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 outbound train schedule data;
• determining, using the first optimization model and the outbound train schedule data, a first list of train block assignments for a planning horizon;
• after determining the first list of train block assignments using the first optimization model, determining whether an unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model is greater than zero, wherein the unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model indicates a number of train blocks that remain unassigned to a classification track after using the first optimization model to determine the first list of train block assignments;
• in response to determining that the unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model is not greater than zero, displaying the first list of train block assignments generated by the first optimization model on an electronic display;
• in response to determining that the unassigned train block volume from the first optimization model is greater than zero:
• determining, using the second optimization model and the outbound train schedule data, a second list of train block assignments for the planning horizon;
• and
• displaying the second list of train block assignments generated by the second optimization model on the electronic display;
• wherein the first and second lists of train block assignments each comprise:
• a plurality of classification tracks of a classification bowl;
• a plurality of time periods of the planning horizon;
• and
• one or more of a plurality of train blocks that are assigned to each classification track for each time period of the planning horizon.