Heuristic Analysis of the Effective Range of a Track Tamping Machine

Abstract

This paper develops a methodology to define the optimum length of railway track that would undergo maintenance work by one tamping machine. The acquisition and logistic costs associated with the use of this type of machine are very relevant in the context of track maintenance. However, no systematic approach was found in the literature that could help managers recognize the machines’ real capacity, which seems to be more conditioned by the track’s availability for maintenance than by the machine’s performance. The methodology presented in this paper takes into account the execution capacity of the machine in a scenario in which the intervention schedule is optimized from a long-term perspective. It employs a metaheuristic process (simulated annealing) to deliver an optimized intervention schedule and the model is applied to several track length configurations. A trade-off approach is therefore adopted, confronting the minimum logistic costs with the fixed costs of the machine. The implementation of the algorithm showed significant cost reduction. However, the results of the model showed a deviation of the minimum cost solution from the quality standards. Further research could provide more insight into quality standards through its integration into a multiobjective analysis.