System and method for forecasting the composition of an outbound train in a switchyard

A method for building departure trains in a switchyard including a switch and classification tracks, said method comprising:

• a. providing a data processing entity including a CPU and a machine readable storage encoded with software for execution by the CPU, for:
• i. processing with the software input data identifying railcars that have not yet been switched into classification tracks for assigning the railcars to respective departure trains:
• ii. computing with the software a forecast of railcar traffic that will be available to individual ones of the departure trains for transport out of the switchyard at least in part on the basis of said assigning, the forecast of railcar traffic in connection with a particular one of the departure trains including an identification of one or more of the railcars assigned to the particular one of the departure trains;
• b. building one or more departure trains on the basis of the forecast.

A method for forecasting the outbound workload in a switchyard including a switch and classification tracks, said method comprising:

• a. providing a data processing entity including a CPU, a machine readable storage encoded with software for execution by the CPU and an output, for:
• i. matching with the software railcars yet to be switched in the switchyard to departure trains, said matching including forecasting for a railcar the departure train that will be available to transport the railcar out of the switchyard when a processing of the railcar by the switchyard will be completed;
• ii. computing with the software a forecast of railcar traffic that will be available to individual ones of the departure trains for transport out of the switchyard at least in part on the basis of said matching, the forecast of railcar traffic in connection with a particular one of the departure trains including an identification of railcars assigned to the particular departure train;
• b. releasing from the output data describing the computed forecast of railcar traffic available for at least one of the departure trains.