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Solving complex rail disruptions with integrated infrastructure planning 

Khuê’s paper, developed in collaboration with Netherlands Railways and carried out under the supervision of colleagues Prof. Dennis Huisman and Dr Paul Bouman, presents a methodological advancement by proposing an integrated model that simultaneously addresses timetable adjustments and track assignments, both at stations and along open tracks. By adopting a mesoscopic modelling approach, Khuê Nguyễn, together with co-authors Huisman and Bouman, successfully balances the level of infrastructure detail with computational tractability. This allows the model to capture critical operational constraints, such as specific track availability and routing decisions, without the overwhelming complexity of microscopic models.

One of the key contributions of this study lies in its direct integration of short-turning activities into the optimisation model, a capability that has previously required pre-processing or heuristic methods. Furthermore, the model includes flexible infrastructure-aware constraints, enabling it to handle complex real-world situations like partial track closures more robustly than prior approaches.

The proposed methodology is tested on real-life data from the Netherlands Railways, focusing on the dense and operationally critical Randstad area. The results demonstrate that the model can efficiently generate high-quality adjusted timetables, with no train cancellations and only minimal delays, even under severe infrastructure restrictions. This not only highlights the model’s robustness but also its practical viability for deployment in large-scale, real-world settings.

Beyond its immediate operational impact, the study lays important groundwork for future research. It opens the door to integrating additional layers of railway operations—such as passenger transfers, rolling stock circulation, and crew scheduling—into a unified planning framework. Overall, the paper represents a meaningful step toward smarter, more resilient railway timetable planning in the face of growing infrastructure challenges.