When a train operation diagram is disrupted, it is necessary to suspend or change the order of train operation and re-schedule the rotation of train crew, which is now performed manually by experts. There are a number of constraints and problems in this task, however: it is intensive in terms of time and labor; it must be performed rapidly; specialist knowledge is required on the types of rolling stock to be deployed; complicated conditions on the relevant lines and accommodation bases must be taken into account; sufficient rest and meal time must be provided for the crew, and inequality in rotation tends to emerge among train crew members.
      The RTRI therefore summarized the issues involved in the planning of train crew rotation, and developed a high-speed processing algorithm to enable a desirable solution to be quickly obtained (Figures 1 and 2 show examples of its application). Figure 1 represents an adjusted train operation diagram with a number of points where crew members cannot be on duty for the next train assigned due to cancellation or delay. Figure 2 shows a revised train crew rotation plan where the routes of seven crew members have been changed to enable assignment of a member to each train. Testing this algorithm on the data of an actual train operation diagram verified that it was possible to obtain an appropriate solution in about five minutes using a computer.

Fig. 1 Partial results of operation adjustment for a one-hour train delay, indicating that train crew members cannot be on duty for the next train assigned due to cancellation or delay (red arrows)

Fig. 2 An example of partial algorithm output indicating that the routes of seven crew members have been changed to assign a member to each train (red line: changed assignment train)

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