MULTIRAIL
®
Passenger Edition (PE)
System Description
April 2003
MultiModal Applied Systems, Inc.
125 Village Blvd, Suite 270
Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
US Tel +1 609-419-9800
US Fax +1 609-419-9600
MultiModal Applied Systems (Europe) Ltd
5 Hunters Walk, Chester, CH1 4EB,
United Kingdom
UK Tel +44 (0) 1244 403294
UK Fax +44 (0) 1244 348471
www.multimodalinc.com
www.multimodalinc.com
1. MultiRail® Passenger Edition (PE) System Description
MultiRail Freight Edition (FE) has long been established as the freight railroad industry standard for train
schedule design and management. Using this experience in building modular rail planning systems, we have
built MultiRail Passenger Edition (PE), the first fully-integrated application that delivers full operations
planning capabilities to passenger railroads. Its relational data structure, supported by easy-to-use graphical
interfaces, provides users with the most powerful train management system in the industry today.
Figure 1.a – MultiRail-PE’s Main Menu
In contrast to many railroad systems, MultiRail-PE contains convenient scenario management capabilities.
Using a scenario file, the user is able to point to different directories comprising “databases” on his/her PC or
server machine. This allows him to “mix and match” certain databases to create new scenarios for examination.
A MultiRail-PE scenario file contains path names to the component databases and support files, along with
information describing the applicable database drivers. Standard Windows capabilities allow the creation,
copying, updating, and deleting of MultiRail-PE databases. MultiRail-PE utilizes Crystal Reports as a report
engine. Transfer of report output to spreadsheet, text, or database output is fully supported.
MultiRail-PE includes the following integrated modules:
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Graphical Network Manager
Train Manager for schedule design
Interactive Time-Distance Editing (VISTAS)
Graphical Consist Manager
Platform Occupancy Manager
Comprehensive Crew Management
Timetable editing and publishing (Excel, HTML)
Conflict Identification and animation
Document & evaluate plans with the Report Manager
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1.1 Graphical and Text-based Network Manager
The Graphical Network Manager allows the user to easily design and manage a map-based specification of their
network. By using a scanned bitmapped image from an existing carrier network map, it is possible to easily
point and click to build stations, track segments and other “control points” on the network. MultiRail-PE can
automatically estimate distances and latitude-longitude coordinates. Examples of the Network Manager textbased and graphics-based editing environments are shown below:
Figure 1.a – Portion of Amtrak’s network as displayed on MultiRail’s Network Manager
Figure 1.b – Text–based grids support network data maintenance
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Network Manager’s information is stored in a database that can be accessed by other MultiRail-PE components.
Once the network is in, it can be refined to match the actual performance characteristics of the railroad.
Different train types may be given different operating characteristics-- for example, express and local trains may
have different speeds along a line. Mouse button selection tools allow the user to "click" on locations and lines,
bringing up data grids that allow entry or query of network element attributes. Selection and processing
functions allow you to perform powerful manipulations on the data. An example of such an operation would be
the selection of a set of locations and lines by "painting" a box around them and assigning the same speed or
owner railroad to all of the selected lines.
Network Manager supports multiple facility types such as main stations, local stations, storage yards, repair
facilities, and other control points. Performance characteristics can be entered by line, direction and type of
train, and the routing preferences can be set by train type. Network Manager supports acceleration/deceleration,
which can be entered as MPH/second or as a time factor. This allows the system to accurately estimate transit
time between nodes/stations.
Network Manager also allows the user to specify operators using each line segment (such as showing Amtrak as
using a corridor or line segment) and you can define another network segment for which you may have trackage
rights. Maps of train routes, densities, and network configuration can be generated “on demand.”
1.2 Track Manager
Track Manager allows the graphical design and representation of a complete physical track layout. The editing
tools provide for a system that is both simple to use, and technologically more advanced than any other model
on the market. With very small startup times, and intuitive user interfaces, Track Manager may be used quickly
and efficiently to solve all of your physical design and simulation needs.
Figure 2.a - Track Manager Main Screen.
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The main screen is divided into four main parts. From top to bottom these are:
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MultiRail Corridor. For those users familiar with MultiRail, this represents the ordered list of MultiRail
nodes and links that would make up the corridor under scrutiny. There are no restrictions on the
corridor’s length or topography,
Fast Track Corridor. Because of the great level of detail necessary for a track layout design, the Fast
Track (FT) corridor holds the list of location names used for physical track entities (switches,
crossovers, sidings, etc.). Every FT location is assigned automatically to a MultiRail link, and it may
also be assigned to one of the Nodes that make up the link. Some users may wish to name their FT
locations after their milepost numbers or codes.
Track Layout Editor. This is where tracks are created, moved or deleted; where sidings, diamonds, and
flyovers are added; crossovers described, and all other aspects of track design are performed.
Display Buttons – allows the user to select the display of the best route, feasible route(s) and any
restrictions on a route for a train.
Hints, warnings and error messages. To minimize interference of messages to the user while editing
track, all messages are streamed to this area, and can be saved to text file if desired.
The Track Manager detail is used by MultiRail to understand the physical track and signal characteristics, and
the signal “rules” to identify the conflicts among trains. See the section on Conflict ID for more information on
conflicts.
The user can simply right-click on the track arcs or switches to pull up dialog screens to describe the properties
of these components. Below are two dialog screens from Track Manager:
Figure 2.b – Track Properties
Figure 2.c – Signal Properties
Track Manager is launched from MultiRail’s Train Manager, Timetable Manager, Network Manager or Vistas,
which allows a MultiRail corridor to be selected (by using the shortest-path algorithm) from the Network
database. The MultiRail nodes that are found are fed, in order, into Track Manager, which then searches its track
databases to find matching FT locations and track. The user may keep several different studies in the Corridor
database, so that a new version or enhancement to a corridor may be made with minimal effort.
1.3 Train Manager
MultiRail-PE contains a significant number of features to support the process of train schedule design and
planning. Included in MultiRail are two (2) train management environments – Train Manager and Timetables.
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Within the Train Manager environment the user can specify individual trains, including both overall information
and route specific information. The software is capable of assisting the user by suggesting train routings,
intermediate time values, and making the process of adding points to a route as simple as clicking a mouse
button. This is further augmented by the ability to look at train routings through maps, and time-distance
diagrams. The main Train Manager main window is depicted below:
Figure 1.d -Main Train Manager Window
Bulk creation is also available in Train Manager, which allows the user to create multiple copies of a master
train in one action. There is also a new “Bulk Slide Trains,” which supports changing multiple train schedules at
one time.
1.3
Timetable Manager
The ability to generate timetables which display schedule information provides a powerful means to examine the
feasibility and quality of a set of train schedules, the trains passing through a location, and the level of line
congestion. MultiRail has the ability to generate timetables for any line segment or corridor for any period of
time. You can also view multiple segments or corridors at the same time. Other powerful capabilities are the
ability to edit, custom format, print and publish the times and schedules of trains across a set of corridors.
MultiRail’s Timetable Manager supports the publishing of short-term timetable revisions through date specific
train schedule management, in conjunction with holiday/special event schedule management. Additionally, the
user can control the content and level of detail of the published materials to meet the needs of both working
(employee) and public timetables.
The main launching screen to generate timetables is the place where the definition of Service Lines and
Corridors are determined. A Service Line can be a simple collection of station points along a single corridor or
a very complicated one with many branch lines interleaved into the main corridor.
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Figure 3.a – Timetable Main Screen
Figure 3.b – Trains sorted by a user-selected station
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Other key features of Timetable Manager include:
♦ Support for fully detailed train schedules including:
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Timings down to the second
User specified station stop codes
Ability to specify station and mainline track assignments
Various screen sorting functions
Full export capabilities for timetable publication or analysis
Support for highly detailed routes including both stations and “by points.”
Train, station, and route based notes
Consist assignments, including consist make-up, en-route consist changes, and specification of
“connect-to” trains by day of week
Crew assignments, including crew make-up and specification of “connect to” trains
Specification of day-of-week schedules and full support for effective and expiration dates
Management of schedules for holidays and special events
Specification of train-to-train connections and schedule dependencies
Figure 3.d – Station stop codes can be set
at the train, station or route level
♦ Powerful editing and schedule display environment
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Automated route generation based on minimal user entry
Automated estimation of unopposed running times and intermediate time points, including optional
start/stop, acceleration/deceleration delays
On demand generation of time-distance (string-line) diagrams and corridor based time tables for any
user specified routing, with ability to edit schedules directly on diagram
Cut/copy/paste of entire train schedules and subsets of routes
Numerous time editing capabilities including time rounding, sliding of all or parts of schedules,
clearing of times, and automated calculation of times
Ownership of schedules can be specified allowing other operator schedules to be entered for
reference purposes
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1.4 Conflict Identification
Using the Timetable and Track Manager data, MultiRail has a full train simulation capability, which shows train
conflicts in detailed graphical and tabular formats. The user can define the conflict rules within the track
manager, when defining the various characteristics of the track arcs and switches.
Below is a screen showing the initial identification of conflicts within a timetable. The conflicts are colored by
their severity – low, medium and high.
Identification of Conflicts
Figure 4.a – Conflicts in Timetable
Figure 4.b – Conflict details
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MultiRail’s conflict Management tools will also plot the conflict and animate the trains from the simulation.
This allows the user to visualize and test remedies for the various conflicts in the timetable. Below is a screen
showing the plotting of selected conflicts:
Location of Conflicts
Figure 4.d - Plotting the conflicts in WinPlot
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1.5 Interactive Time Distance Editing - VISTAS
VISTAS is a MultiRail Manager for the interactive design and analysis of railroad train schedules, which is
included in the basic MultiRail-PE license. It is based on a time-distance (time-space) diagram, a railroad
planner's essential tool for determining train schedule feasibility.
Figure 5.a – VISTAS editable time distance diagram
Using a mouse, the user can perform a series of operations and manipulations on the train schedules in a rail
corridor. These operations include:
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Querying specific schedules
"Sliding" train schedules forward and backward in time
Introducing, removing, and adjusting dwell times
Adjustable speeds and running times
With an underlying graphic representation of the railroad, interline corridor selection capabilities, and the ability
to scroll through time and space, VISTAS is perfect for fast schedule design and manipulation. It is MultiRailcompatible, letting you invisibly link its capabilities with MultiRail’s multi-user database, extensive analytic
tools, and graphics toolbox.
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Figure 5.b – VISTAS (Time Distance) graphic with highlighted train for editing of the train schedule
Figure 5.c – VISTAS supports multiple corridor views
VISTAS is useful for scheduling track outages and examining train schedule feasibility with fast and easy
schedule design. As shown above in Figure 1.h, VISTAS produces automated timetable generation including
the ability to show multiple segments in one view. Background colors are editable by the user and the timetables
can be exported to HTML, MS-Word and Excel.
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1.6 Graphical and Text-based Consist Manager
MultiRail-PE includes a full database and interface for the specification of consists and consist assignments,
including graphical display capabilities. Below is an example of a graphical consist display:
Figure 6.a – Graphical Consist Manager – Allows the User to graphically assign
Consist to Trains and to optimise the Equipment Cycling
Each train can be assigned a consist by simply dragging the train to the consist displayed on the screen. The
MultiRail-PE data structure supports reconfiguring consists and mid-route consist changes (or splits). The
graphical consist screen uses the user-defined database of available equipment and the characteristics of
equipment can be specified in the Category Manager.
Figure 6.b - Dark Bars Denote Assignment Errors in Graphical Displays
Key features of Consist Manager include:
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Ability to suggest which trains should be assigned to a consist (based on probable consist cycles)
Ability to specify each type of equipment, including performance characteristics, physical dimensions,
weight, and capacity
Ability to identify equipment “conflicts” by location assignments
Support for specifying the makeup of consists based on the available equipment types
Ability to specify the consist types assigned to each train by day-of-week, and the “connect to” trains for
those consists
Ability to change consists en-route, and to specify the break-up and reforming of new consists
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Automated generation and validation of consist cycle plans including a feasibility check
“Drag and drop” assignment of trains to consist
Both text and graphical representations of consist cycle plans and station connection plans
Figure 6.c – Text-based Consist Assignment Manager
1.7 Graphical and Text-based Platform Occupancy Manager
MultiRail-PE track assignments are specified in each train route, which allows the system to graphically show
the track and platform occupancy for trains at a station over time. The graphical manager automatically shows
the conflicts reported in validation process, and the consist “connections” are shown graphically. The user
interface provides for drag & drop graphical editing of assignments and “What-if” capabilities to identify
opportunities to maximize track and platform utilization.
Future versions of MultiRail-PE will have a line-up view that supports consist connection management and also
allow for alternate sorts & filters to support consist, platform & schedule edits. Below are sample screens of the
Platform Manager in Graphical and Text-based formats:
Figure 7.a – Text-based Platform Assignment
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Figure 7.b - Station Occupancy Graphic for Union Station, Toronto
1.8 Graphical and Text-based Crew Management
MultiRail-PE includes sophisticated crew management tools. Some of the features are:
♦ Full database and interface devoted to the specification of crew assignments
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Ability to suggest which trains should be assigned to a job (based on probable consist cycles).
Ability to specify each type (classification) of crew member
Support for specifying the makeup of crews based on the available classifications
Ability to specify the crew composition assigned to each train by day-of-week, and the “connect to”
trains for the crew members
Ability to change crew make-up en-route
Ability to record every aspect of a crew job
Crew reporting in a bid-sheet style, including two summary reports; one by train (which jobs are
assigned to the train, and on what part of the train route), and by job
Automated generation and validation of crew cycle plans
Both text and graphical representations of crew cycle plans and station connection plans
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Figure 8.a – Crew Manager in text-based format with detailed
Crew information and associated job assignments
Figure 8.b – Graphical Crew Manager - drag and drop trains to detailed jobs
1.9 Exporting of data for Publishing
MultiRail has various tools for exporting of data. These formats include comma delimited text, tab delimited
text, MS Word & ME Excel and HTML.
An example of Timetable data exported to Excel is shown below:
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Figure 9.a - Sample of Timetable Data Exported to Microsoft Excel
An example of this data exported to HTML is shown below:
Figure 9.b - Sample of Timetable Data Exported to HTML
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1.10 Report Manager and Graphical Output
In addition to multiple timetable formats, MultiRail-PE produces numerous other reports. All standard reports
can be output to desktop database tables, “flat” data files, Microsoft Word, Excel, and a number of other
formats. In addition, the underlying data used for all standard reports can be captured as database tables and can
be used in applications such as Microsoft Access for developing custom analyses. Finally, all of the data used
by the system can be exported to predefined MultiRail “flat” file export formats.
MultiRail-PE makes re-keying of data unnecessary. Data sets can be generated in a wide variety of formats, and
files can be produced in any reasonable format to meet existing, planned and emerging standards, and any other
format likely to be requested.
MultiRail-PE’s powerful reporting capabilities allow you to “slice and dice” your operating plan and produce
standard/custom reports and graphical output:
♦ Many “canned” reports:
• Time-table reports
• Trains operated summaries
• Individual train schedule reports
• Train statistics and validation reports
• Line density reports
• Station line-up and platform occupancy reports
• Consist assignment and utilization reports
• Crew assignment reports
• Network configuration reports
♦ All reports can be filtered so the user only gets the data needed
♦ All report data can be exported for use by external systems
♦ User-developed customized reports fully supported
♦ Numerous “on demand” graphical outputs
• Time-distance diagrams
• Train route maps
• Line density diagrams
• Train schematics diagrams
• Consist assignment diagrams
• Platform occupancy/station activity diagrams
• Crew assignment diagrams
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Figure 10.a – Report Manager main screen (showing crew report filters)
Figure 10.b – Detailed Consists Cycle report
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Figure 10.c – Terminal clock report for 30th Street Station
1.11 MultiRail _ PE Add-ons
1.11.1 FastTrack™ II
In addition to MultiRail-PE, our optional FastTrack II line capacity/dispatch analysis tool supports the
development of detailed meet-pass plans and highly detailed validation of train schedules. FastTrack II is
integrated with MultiRail, with the ability to extract train schedules and track configuration data directly from
MultiRail’s databases. MultiRail-PE includes TrackManager™, a highly detailed and graphics based track editor
for the specification of your track configuration and track’s train performance attributes for use in FastTrack II.
Figure 11.a – Track Manager™ main screen for track layout configuration
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Figure 11.b – FastTrack™ II handles complex junctions and interlockings
1.12.1 Train Schematics
Train Schematic Graphics is a powerful system that quickly and easily allows users to draw and print
professional looking train schematic diagrams. The train schematic diagram displays a set of stations with the
trains, represented as lines running between the stations. An identifying train symbol, arrival time and departure
time are listed above each of the lines.
Figure 12.a – Train Schematics provide a “network view” of your schedules
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