Development of a Novel Construction Planning Model for Ballasted Railway Projects Using Discrete Event Simulation (Case Study: Mianeh-Ardabil Railway)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Alireza Mahdavi Miralilou 1
Masoud Fathali 2
Hossein Taghaddos 3
1 M.Sc. Grad., Department of Construction Engineering and Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Road, Housing and Urban Development Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/road.2025.519655.2393
Abstract
In recent years, the use of advanced technologies in the construction of railway ballast tracks has led to numerous advantages. These technologies encompass a wide range of domains, including the deployment of modern machinery, intelligent management of material inflow, and application of computer-based tools for project execution. Among these tools, discrete event simulation offers a precise and reality-based framework for railway construction planning by identifying bottlenecks and enhancing overall productivity. This study proposes a comprehensive modeling framework for the construction planning of ballasted railway infrastructure, utilizing discrete event simulation. The model was developed and implemented in Rockwell Arena Simulation Software, which enables detailed process visualization and execution modeling. The proposed framework facilitates the analysis of critical factors influencing construction performance and highlights interactions that affect productivity. A Mianeh-Ardabil railway project case study was conducted to evaluate the model’s effectiveness. Results demonstrate that even slight variations in influential parameters can significantly alter the project completion time. Key challenges such as subgrade delays and inefficient material supply were identified as major contributors to reduced productivity, with some scenarios showing over 16% decline in progress rates.
Keywords
Ballasted Track Systems
Discrete Event Simulation
Productivity Analysis
Railway Infrastructure Construction
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