Optimizing the high speed train stop schedule using flexible stopping patterns combination

This paper presents an integrated train stop schedule optimization method combines with a crucial integer programming model in the context of high speed railway. The model tries to determine the train stops sequence along the train route, and the goal is minimizing the total seat-kilometers of unoccupied train-set seats. The integrated optimization method, in addition, optimizes a flexible train stopping patterns combination by using the model in a hierarchical way. A case study is conducted for a real-world instance of the Beijing-Shanghai high speed railway in China to verify the effectiveness of the method.