Simulation of traffic management with FRISO

Due to the high occupancy rate of the Dutch rail network it is difficult to handle future transport demand by the introduction of more trains. The main challenges are on one hand generating a feasible timetable and at the same time meeting performance criteria e.g. punctuality and train delays. Possible solutions are extension of infrastructure capacity and/or adjustment of the timetable structure. Besides those more common measures there is a third option that focuses on traffic management. These measures concern operational and planning issues such as increasing the level of flexibility in daily operation, e.g. by better decision support systems, and decreasing the level of detail in the planning stage. In order to quantify the improvements of such measures, Dutch Inframanager ProRail uses simulation. This simulation approach requires new functionality, regarding train control mechanisms.