Express Freight Train Diagram Coordinating Methodology

Express freight transportation plays an important role in railway transportation, and the express freight train diagram is the integrated plan for railway freight transportation. This paper discusses the coordinating methodology during the express freight train scheduling process. Based on analysis of the procedure of a railway transportation plan and its relationship to other railway operation plans or technical work, the coordination between express freight train scheduling and railway station operation, passenger train plans, maintenance time window plan and locomotive scheduling were considered. Some proposed methods were put forward to optimize the express freight train diagram, which would be of benefit to the quality and robustness of the express freight train.