UK: Inter-city train operator Avanti West Coast is undertaking a one-year trial of a timetable optimisation tool developed by independent digital engineering research organisation the Centre for Modelling & Simulation to boost service reliability during unplanned disruption such as speed restrictions or line closures.
AWC operational staff enter factors that can affect planned services and receive fully-optimised timetable suggestions which can be implemented instantly to keep trains running where possible and reduce the impact on passengers. Each scenario is saved, providing the operator with access to off-the-shelf plans which could be used to address similar situations in the future.
The operator will also explore how the tool could be used to support and replan crew and fleet availability when it is unable to operate its scheduled timetable due to weather, infrastructure issues or an incident on the line.
CFMS received development funding through the Small Business Research Initiative’s First of a Kind competition, funded by the Department for Transport and delivered by Innovate UK
‘Whilst timetable optimisation isn’t a new concept, I’m proud Avanti West Coast is leading the transport industry with this innovative technology that can help us to deliver a better service for customers when things don’t go as planned’, said AWC Managing Director Andy Mellors.
CFMS CEO Sam Paice said ‘bringing our significant expertise in modelling and simulation and closely collaborating with Avanti West Coast, we’ve developed a first-of-a-kind tool that has the potential to transform how disruption is managed and minimised. This is a major step forward for technology adoption across industries, helping to keep the railways and the UK moving.’
