SOME ASPECTS OF HEURISTIC ALGORITHMS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS FOR FREIGHT RAILWAY TRAFFIC ORGANIZATION

Rail traffic organization is a multifactorial decision-making problem. To achieve the best results and reduce the risk of error when deciding on its implementation, appropriate algorithms should be identified and implemented in the form of computer tools, allowing for the optimal solution to be obtained. This paper discusses the process of organizing freight traffic on the rail network. The algorithm of relocating loaded cars in a compact and dispersed system is discussed. In turn, it is been indicated that the movement of empty and loaded cars must follow a strictly defined timetable. A heuristic algorithm supporting decision-making in the area of rail freight traffic management is presented, divided between the concept development stage, the timetable design stage for the developed concept, and its implementation in the form of specialized tools. An example of how the application works is also presented.