Recent Projects

A Decision Support System for the Railroad Blocking Problem

Funded by the National Science Foundation, Phase I, Phase II, and Phase IIB Small Business Innovations Research Grants, we are developing an interactive web-based decision support system to solve the railroad blocking problem, a critical planning problem fundamental to all railroads. Solving the blocking problem is the first step in the railroad operating plan development process. Learn more …

A Decision Support System for the Train Schedule Design Problem

Funded by the National Science Foundation, Phase I and Phase II Small Business Innovations Research Grant as well as BNSF Railway, this project involves developing an interactive web-based decision support system to solve the train schedule design problem. This decision support system when combined with the blocking problem solution will enable railroads to develop optimized operating plans within a few weeks; a process that currently requires at least six months of painstaking effort from a team of planners. Two US Class I freight railroads have recently started proof-of-concept studies to assess the benefits of this software. We expect to receive enough funding from industry sources to go to the Phase IIB project soon. Learn more …

Algorithms for Dynamic Locomotive Assignment

Innovative Scheduling received Phase I Grant from the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovations Research Program to develop cutting-edge algorithms for dynamic locomotive assignment. Dynamic (or real-time) locomotive assignment for railroads has remained an unsolved problem so far and all previous attempts did not result into a deployable product. This Phase I grant established a successful proof-of-concept and paved the way for the Phase II grant proposal that is under consideration by NSF. Innovative Scheduling is also aggressively seeking Development Partnerships from US Class I railroads to match the NSF’s potential Phase II funding.

Locomotive Planning Proof-of-Concept Study for CSX Transportation

CSX Transportation, a major Class I railroad in USA, successfully completes a proof-of-concept study of the Innovative Locomotive Planning Optimizer (ILPO). The study demonstrated that the locomotive planning optimizer generates implementable solutions to this complex problem and at the same time obtains significant savings in locomotive costs. Learn more …

Licensing Blocking Optimization Engines for BNSF Railway

BNSF Railway extensively tested the Innovative Railroad Blocking Optimizer (IRBO) to generate clean-slate and incremental blocking plans and found it to be generating satisfactory plans. It recently licensed the IRBO software and has started using it routinely for its planning and strategic studies. Innovative scheduling has also developed several enhancements and upgrades to assist in these studies. Learn more …

Integrating Blocking Optimization Engines at Norfolk Southern's Operating Plan Developer (OPD)

Norfolk Southern, another Class I railroad in USA, licensed Innovative Railroad Blocking Optimizer and integrated it with their Operating Plan Developer (OPD) information system. This software now enables Norfolk Southern to develop a new blocking plan in a matter of few hours which earlier took months of team effort. Norfolk Southern frequently uses this software for planning and strategic studies. Learn more …

Developing CSX’s Railroad Operating Plan

Innovative Scheduling used its blocking plan optimizer to assist CSX Transportation and Multimodal Applied Systems in developing ONE PLAN, a new railroad operating plan that was put into production and saved CSX tens of millions of dollars. Learn more …

Optimizing Network Configuration at CSX

CSX Transportation engaged Innovative Scheduling to analyze its network of terminals and to recommend an optimal network configuration. We offered a number of useful recommendations and insights about yard location and yard capacity expansion and realignment. Learn more …

Fleet Planning at United Airlines

United Airlines awarded us several grants to develop algorithms and prototype software for solving several fleet scheduling problems, including the Combined Through and Fleet Assignment Model (ctFAM), multicriteria ctFAM, and ctFAM with time windows. Our prototype software demonstrated potential annual savings of $25 million to $50 million. Learn more …

Equitable Distribution of Automobiles among Toyota Dealers

Given a limited and insufficient supply of Toyota car models, our optimization-based software suggested an allocation of inventory that met the demands of retailers in the most equitable manner. Our software consistently produced a near-optimal distribution plan within two minutes of computer time and has been integrated in Toyota’s distribution planning system. Learn more …