The Rail Cargo Group and Hex Solutions have won the Austrian State Prize for Consulting and the Constantinus Award for their innovative locomotive timetable project. The artificial intelligence involved saves money and reduces CO2 emissions in the rail logistics industry.

The Rail Cargo Group and its partners have developed a data-based automated and intelligent working timetable for locomotives. This timetable reduces idle time and empty runs and, above all, CO2 emissions. What’s more, digitalised planning improves how locomotives are deployed and makes a significant contribution to cost savings.

Reality is the key to success

The demand for locomotives is one of the biggest cost factors in vehicle operations. This innovative project to optimise the working timetable aims to improve the demand for locomotives and reduce the number of empty kilometres. Digitalising the planning process significantly reduces the demand for locomotives, increases flexibility and greatly improves the overall quality of planning processes.

A key success factor in its development was being able to bring the real world into the simulation process. Real-time data drawn from train timetable notifications, locomotive information, handling times, and more were part of the development process.

Backed by science

Hex Solutions, the University of Vienna and TU Klagenfurt all supported the RCG in developing this innovative working timetable for locomotives. The project was nominated for the Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs’ State Prize for Consulting and for the Austrian Economic Chamber’s Constantinus Award in the Digitalisation/Internet of Things category. The project impressed everyone and picked up both awards.

(Source: Rail Cargo Group)