Multi-Depot Rail Departure and Garaging Line Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for compiling urban rail transit operation lines fail to efficiently coordinate multiple depots, leading to complex outbound and inbound scheduling challenges, particularly in managing rolling stock and depot capacities, and require manual calculations that are time-consuming and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method for compiling urban rail transit outbound and inbound operation lines that synchronously generates paths and times, considering multiple depots, by screening feasible paths, identifying districts, and matching them with depot constraints to resolve conflicts and optimize train operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual calculations are used to compile outbound and inbound operation lines, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but compiling efficiency is significantly reduced and working time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompiling efficiencyVSAvoidworking time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual calculation methods with an automated computer-based compilation system. The system automatically generates outbound and inbound operation lines by processing mainline operation data, eliminating the need for manual calculations and significantly reducing compiling time while maintaining scheduling accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The compilation system performs self-service by automatically generating operation lines based on input data without requiring manual intervention for each scheduling decision. The system autonomously processes constraints, resolves conflicts, and produces final schedules, reducing both time loss and manual effort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple depots with limited parking capacities are coordinated, then train scheduling becomes more complex, but the ability to meet diverse service demands improves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice route varietyVSAvoidscheduling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the scheduling problem by treating each depot independently with its own constraints and capabilities. The system processes each depot's parking capacity, outbound/inbound intervals, and service requirements separately, then integrates the solutions. This segmentation reduces overall complexity while enabling diverse service routing across multiple depots

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling system dynamically adjusts operation lines based on real-time constraints from multiple depots. It continuously adapts to varying parking capacities, service demands, and temporal constraints, generating flexible schedules that meet diverse service requirements without becoming overwhelmed by complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If outbound and inbound operation lines are compiled separately, then the compilation process is simpler, but coordination between adjacent time periods and depots becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompilation simplicityVSAvoidcoordination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the compilation of outbound and inbound operation lines into a unified process. The system simultaneously generates both types of operation lines while maintaining their respective constraints and ensuring proper coordination between adjacent time periods and depots. This integration improves reliability without significantly increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the number of on-line trains is increased to meet passenger demand, then service coverage improves, but depot parking capacity constraints become more difficult to satisfy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverageVSAvoidparking capacity management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a temporal dimension to parking capacity management by considering outbound and inbound intervals at different time periods. The system schedules trains not just by location but by time, allowing multiple trains to be parked at different times rather than requiring all trains to be parked simultaneously. This temporal dimension resolves capacity constraints while maintaining service coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4406814B1Method for compiling multi-depot coordinated urban rail transit departing/garaging operation lines
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 CASCO SIGNAL LTD
  • EP4406814B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4406814B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4406814B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for compilation of urban rail transit outbound and inbound operation lines with coordination of multiple depots, including the steps: S 1, screening out, based on the mainline path, a feasible outbound and inbound path set corresponding to switch tracks in each depot that can be connected to the mainline path; S2, identifying, based on a connection mode of an outbound and inbound path and the mainline path, outbound and inbound districts to be compiled in a feasible outbound and inbound path and assigning a time scale to the outbound and inbound districts as a feasible outbound and inbound operation line set; S3, matching a feasible outbound and inbound operation line of a corresponding time period, service route and direction for each originating event and terminating event of the mainline to be connected to the outbound and inbound operation line; and S4, according to a constraint on depot parking capacities, generating arrival and departure events of a corresponding feasible outbound and inbound operation line, and checking and resolving any time conflicts between the arrival and departure events of the feasible outbound and inbound operation line and those in mainline operation line; and determining the ultimately matched train outbound and inbound depots, outbound and inbound paths and arrival and departure events in the outbound and inbound operation line based on outbound and inbound interval constraint of the depot.