AB LTG Infra is the railroad infrastructure manager in Lithuania, responsible for the modernization, development and maintenance of the 1,767-kilometer railroad network. The company strives to provide reliable and efficient rail infrastructure, crucial for passenger and freight transport, by implementing priority infrastructure modernization projects on international transport corridors. To automate rail siding operations, LTG Infra has implemented the Yard Management System (YMS), an advanced tool for managing siding traffic and shunting operations.
Project background
Prior to the implementation of YMS, LTG Infra was using two systems: OPKIS and STOKIS, which had limited capabilities to comprehensively manage sidings and operations between them. What was needed was a WEB-based system that would automate and optimize processes related to the management of sidings, including train movement, carriage shunting and infrastructure adjustment to current requirements.
Challenges
- Managing operations at 100 sidings: Coordinate traffic and shunting operations between numerous rail sidings throughout Lithuania.
- Process automation: Need to automate shunting operations, including entering documents, generating reports, and tracking operation statuses.
- Visualization of sidings: Provide graphical visualization of rail infrastructure on sidings, enabling dynamic planning of operations and avoiding shunting conflicts.
- Capacity monitoring: Increase railroad capacity while controlling traffic and operations on sidings.
Solutions
- Yard Management System (YMS) Implementation:
- Siding Operations Management: YMS handles all operations at 100 rail sidings, including train movement between sidings, car shunting, arrivals and departures.
- Document automation: The system allows automatic entry of documents such as schedules, vehicle lists, station crossings and shunting documents (shunting request), which operators can process in real time.
- Monitoring operation statuses: Operators can keep track of document execution statuses (completed, in progress, not completed) and plan actions according to the dynamic situation on the siding.
- Graphic visualization of infrastructure:
- Graphic model of sidings: each siding has a visualization of tracks, platforms, switches, which takes into account such parameters as track occupancy (in meters or pieces), type of tracks (width, electrification) and current restrictions (e.g., renovations).
- Dynamic depot management: With drag-and-drop functionality, operators can easily move cars and locomotives between tracks, adjusting the view to suit their preferences.
- Optimizing maneuvers:
- Automation of shunting operations: Based on shunting documents, the system automatically distributes wagons to the appropriate tracks, enabling convenient management of depots on sidings. Operators can monitor the progress of operations in real time and approve individual shunting steps.
- Tracking the movement of wagons: The system allows you to track the movement of wagons and their status. In the case of incomplete operations (e.g., moving only a part of the depot), the system records the status and requires the reason for not completing the operation.
- Configuration of movement paths:
- Shunting paths: the system allows you to configure shunting routes (e.g. A-B-C or E-F-G), taking into account dynamic conditions such as track occupancy, repairs or other obstacles. Automatic notifications of conflicts where a collision or congestion may occur.
- Reporting and analysis:
- Extensive reports: The YMS system enables the generation of extensive reports on the status of sidings, the movement of railcars, the execution of shunting and the work of operators.
- BMS: Billing Management System records all operations of moving wagons of another carrier, which allows for precise financial settlement for services rendered. The data is transferred to the SAP system, where invoices are generated.
Results
- Achieving a milestone: The preparation and implementation of the YMS with the integration of the Billing Management System (BMS) represents a significant milestone in the project, providing the foundation for further system integrations and development.
- Increased operational efficiency: With the implementation of the YMS, LTG Infra has significantly increased the efficiency of siding operations management by automating documentation and shunting processes.
- Improved traffic coordination: Graphical visualization of sidings and dynamic track management have enabled easier planning and execution of operations, minimizing the risk of collisions or congestion.
- Optimizing infrastructure utilization: The ability to configure shunting paths and monitor track occupancy has increased railroad capacity and improved infrastructure management.
- Precise billing of operations: The BMS has made it possible to accurately bill carriers for shunting operations performed, which has streamlined financial processes.
Examples
- Automatic shunting documents: the system automatically generates documents, such as shunting requests, based on which operators carry out shunting operations.
- Graphic visualization of sidings: operators can easily manage tracks and depots with dynamic track visualization and drag-and-drop functionality.
- Shunting optimization: Thanks to automation, the system independently distributes wagons to the appropriate tracks, speeding up shunting operations.
- Maneuver conflicts: The system automatically detects conflicts in maneuvering operations, preventing errors and delays.
Summary
The implementation of the Yard Management System (YMS) at LTG Infra has significantly improved the management of rail sidings operations, automating key processes and increasing the efficiency of rail traffic. The preparation of the YMS together with the Billing Management System (BMS) is a key milestone in the project, highlighting LTG Infra’s technological sophistication and supporting the precise billing of carrier operations. With advanced graphical visualisation, dynamic track management and precise reporting, LTG Infra has achieved better traffic control and infrastructure optimisation.
