Patent attributes
A system and method for determining rail terminal capacity needs. In one embodiment, terminal railcar inventory is determined periodically throughout a specific time interval based on terminal traffic data. Train traffic data is accessed and indexed into discrete time periods, such as daily and hourly intervals. Dwell occupancy indexes are created with periodic intervals, and assigned dwell occupancy values based on said dwell occupancy definitions and traffic data. The railcar inventory of the train terminal at any particular time may then be determined by cross-tabulating the occupancy dwell values, and applying business rules. The number and size of tracks needed to accommodate a rail terminal may be determined by assigning blocks of railcars to terminal tracks. Using the railcar inventory, a list of railcar blocks, railcar block sizes, railcar block classifications, and track classifications is created. After specifying switch parameters, the list of railcar blocks is evaluated based on the list of railcar block sizes and the list of railcar block classifications. The list of railcar blocks is then assigned to the terminal tracks, based on the list of railcar block classifications, the list of track classifications, and the switching parameters. After assigning the blocks to tracks, a final list of tracks that have been assigned blocks is generated.
