The scheduling of freight trains on the Dutch railway network

The number of applications for train paths has increased during the last years, often leading to conflicts between freight trains and passenger trains. The objective of this research is therefore to develop options for improving the capacity allocation process with regard to freight trains. For two freight train corridors case studies are done: Kijfhoek – Venlo and Amersfoort – Bad Bentheim. For both corridors different timetable constructions are designed in DONNA with four different freight train paths. Conclusion of the research is that the timetable can be improved by scheduling faster freight train paths than the current ones. This is especially useful on corridors with limited infrastructure. Most freight trains can operate faster than the current freight train paths.