Providing an Optimal Model for Load Allocation in Rail and Road Multimodal Transportation with a Robust Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D., Grad., Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Parand Branch, Parand, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Parand Branch, Parand, Iran.

Abstract

One of the important goals of Iran's transportation industry, based on the vision document of rail transportation, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and optimally manage energy resources, according to which, in 2029, up to 35% of cargo transportation in the country should be carried out through the rail network. In this regard, the use of multimodal transportation seems obvious and useful. In this regard, promoting rail transportation as a green method against green methods such as road transportation, more than anything else, requires evaluating and providing effective optimization solutions. Therefore, in this research, an attempt has been made to provide a hybrid model to evaluate different modes of transportation and in this way to check the flow of freight transportation in the rail network. Therefore, in the present research, a random optimization model has been presented for the evaluation of freight transportation methods, so that the coefficients of the variables have a relative flexibility for optimization. To achieve the goal of stability after initial formulation, which has relative certainty, based on non-linear integer programming, a stable model has been compiled and compared with non-stable models. The challenges of robust planning, in a multimodal space, in terms of the variety of freight transportation facilities in road and rail aspects, require considering the limitations associated with the objective function, which is attempted in this research through the interaction between various types of rail network flows, a proper evaluation of the model about be provided at the expense of road-rail transportation facilities and the capacity of the rail network. Therefore, an approximate algorithm for checking and explaining deterministic alternatives in a reasonable computing time has been investigated. Stable and non-steady models are also focused on the country's rail network in this research, and it has been tried to provide a suitable and useful tool for analyzing and responding to the demand of freight transit companies in the conditions of competition with the road sector through testing the model's applications.

Keywords


-Abate, M., Vierth, I., Karlsson, R., de Jong, G., & Baak, J. (2018). A disaggregate stochastic freight transport model for Sweden. Transportation, 46(3), 671–696.
-­Abdulaal, M., & Leblanc, L. J. (1979). Methods for combining modal split and equilibrium assignment models. Transportation Science, 13(4), 292–314.
-­Arencibia, A. I., Feo-Valero, M., García-Menéndez, L., Román, C., et al. (2015). Modelling mode choice for freight transport using advanced choice experiments. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 75, 252–267.
-Crainic, T. G., Florian, M., & Leal, J. E. (2001). Model for the strategic planning of national freight transportation by rail. Transportation Science, 24(1), 1–24.
-Crisalli, U., Comi, A., & Rosati, L. (2013). A methodology for the assessment of railroad freight transport policies. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 87, 292– 305. doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.10.611.
-Croissant, Y. (2020). mlogit: Multinomial logit models. R package version 1.1-0,
-Dafermos, S. C. (2001). Integrated equilibrium flow models for transportation planning. In M. A. Florian (Ed.), Traffic equilibrium methods, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 106–118.
-Duran, M. A., & Grossmann, I. E. (1986). An outer-approximation algorithm for a class of mixed-integer nonlinear programs. Marhematical Programming, 36, 307– 339.
-European Commission (2011). White paper on transport: roadmap to a single European transport area: towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system. Publications Office.
-European Court of Auditors (2016). Rail freight transport in the EU: Still not on the right track. Technical Report 08. European Court of Auditors. doi.org/10. 2865/53961.
-Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Zhang, M., Janic, M., & Tavasszy, L. A. (2015). A freight transport optimization model for integrated network, service, and policy design. Transportation Research Part E., Logistics and Transportation Review, 77, 61–76.
-Fernández L, J. E., de Cea, J., & Giesen, E. R. (2004). A strategic model of freight operations for rail transportation systems. Transportation Planning and Technology.
 -Florian, M. (2001). Traffic equilibrium model of travel by car and public transit modes. Transportation Science, 11(2), 166–179­.
-­Florian, M., & Nguyen, S. (1978). A combined trip distribution modal split and trip assignment model. Transportation Research, 12(4), 241–246.
-Floudas, C. A. (2001). Mixed-integer nonlinear optimization. In Nonlinear and mixedinteger optimization: Fundamentals and applications, Oxford University Press, Inc. 480-481.
-Friesz, T. L., & Kwon, C. (2007). Strategic freight network planning models and dynamic oligopolistic urban freight networks. In D. A. Hensher, & K. J. Button (Eds.), Handbook of transport modelling (vol 1), Emerald Group Publishing Limited.  611–631.
-Guelat, J., Florian, M., & Crainic, T. G. (1990). Multimode multiproduct network assignment model for strategic planning of freight flows. Transportation Science, 24(1), 25–39.
-­Hou, B., Zhao, S., & Liu, H. (2020). A combined modal split and traffic assignment model with capacity constraints for siting remote park-and-ride facilities. IEEE Access, 8, 80502–80517.
-Hwang, T., & Ouyang, Y. (2014). Assignment of freight shipment demand in congested rail networks. Transportation Research Record, Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 8(2448), 37–44.
-Jensen, A. F., Thorhauge, M., de Jong, G., Rich, J., Dekker, T., Johnson, D., Nielsen, O. A. (2019). A disaggregate freight transport chain choice model for Europe. Transportation Research Part E. Logistics and Transportation Review, 121, 43–62.
-de Jong, G., Tavasszy, L., Bates, J., Grønland, S. E., Huber, S., Kleven, O., Schmorak, N., et al. (2016). The issues in modelling freight transport at the national level. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 4(1), 13–21.
-de Jong, G., Vierth, I., Tavasszy, L., Ben-Akiva, M., et al. (2013). Recent developments in national and international freight transport models within Europe. Transportation, 40(2), 347–371.
 -Jourquin, B. (2016). Calibration and validation of strategic freight transportation planning models with limited information. Journal of Transportation Technologies, 06(05), 239–256.