Case Study: Implementation of Yard Management System (YMS) at LTG Infra
AB LTG Infra is the manager of railway infrastructure in Lithuania, responsible for the modernization, development, and maintenance of a 1,767 km railway network.
The company aims to ensure reliable and efficient railway infrastructure, which is crucial for passenger and freight transport, by implementing priority infrastructure modernization projects on international transport corridors. To automate operations at railway sidings, LTG Infra implemented the Yard Management System (YMS) – an advanced tool for managing siding traffic and shunting operations.
Project Background
Before the implementation of YMS, LTG Infra used two systems: OPKIS and STOKIS, which had limited capabilities for comprehensive siding management and operations between them. A web-based system was needed to automate and optimize processes related to siding management, including train movement, wagon shunting, and adapting infrastructure to current requirements.
Challenges
1. Managing operations at 100 sidings: Coordinating traffic and shunting operations across numerous railway sidings throughout Lithuania.
2. Process automation: The need to automate shunting operations, including document entry, report generation, and tracking operation statuses.
3. Siding visualization: Providing a graphical visualization of railway infrastructure at sidings to enable dynamic operation planning and avoid shunting conflicts.
4. Monitoring capacity: Increasing railway line capacity while simultaneously controlling traffic and operations at sidings.
Solutions
1.Implementation of Yard Management System (YMS):
- Siding operation management: YMS handles all operations at 100 railway sidings, including train movement between sidings, wagon shunting, arrivals, and departures.
- Document automation: The system enables automatic entry of documents such as schedules, vehicle lists, station passes, and shunting documents (shunting request), which operators can process in real-time.
- Monitoring operation statuses: Operators can track the statuses of document execution (completed, in progress, not completed) and plan actions based on the dynamic situation at the siding.
2. Graphical visualization of infrastructure:
- Graphical siding model: Each siding has a visualization of tracks, platforms, and switches, considering parameters such as track occupancy (in meters or units), track type (width, electrification), and current restrictions (e.g., repairs).
- Dynamic management of consists: Using drag-and-drop functionality, operators can easily move wagons and locomotives between tracks, adjusting the view to their preferences.
3. Shunting optimization:
- Automation of shunting operations: Based on shunting documents, the system automatically allocates wagons to the appropriate tracks, allowing convenient management of consists at sidings. Operators can monitor operation progress in real-time and approve individual shunting stages.
- Tracking wagon movements: The system allows tracking of wagon movements and their statuses. For incomplete operations (e.g., moving only part of a consist), the system records the status and requires a reason for the incomplete operation.
4. Configuration of movement paths:
- Shunting paths: The system enables configuration of shunting routes (e.g., A-B-C or E-F-G), considering dynamic conditions such as track occupancy, repairs, or other obstacles. Automatic notifications are provided in case of conflicts that may result in collisions or bottlenecks.
-5.Reporting and analysis:
- Advanced reports: YMS enables the generation of detailed reports on the state of sidings, wagon movements, shunting execution, and operator performance.
- BMS System: The Billing Management System records all wagon movement operations performed for other carriers, allowing precise financial settlement for the provided services. Data is transferred to the SAP system, where invoices are generated.
Results
1. Achieving a milestone: The preparation and implementation of the YMS system, along with the integration of the Billing Management System (BMS), represents a significant project milestone, providing a foundation for further system integrations and development.
2. Increased operational efficiency: With the implementation of YMS, LTG Infra significantly enhanced the efficiency of siding operations management, automating documentation and shunting processes.
3. Improved traffic coordination: Graphical visualization of sidings and dynamic track management enabled easier planning and execution of operations, minimizing the risk of collisions or bottlenecks.
4. Infrastructure utilization optimization: The ability to configure shunting paths and monitor track occupancy increased railway line capacity and improved infrastructure management.
5. Accurate operation settlements: The BMS system facilitated precise billing for carriers for the performed shunting operations, streamlining financial processes.
Examples
1. Automated shunting documents: The system automatically generates documents, such as shunting requests, based on which operators execute shunting operations.
2. Graphical siding visualization: Operators can easily manage tracks and consists thanks to dynamic track visualization and drag-and-drop functionality.
3. Shunting optimization: Through automation, the system independently allocates wagons to the appropriate tracks, accelerating shunting operations.
4. Conflict management: The system automatically detects conflicts in shunting operations, preventing errors and delays.
The implementation of the Yard Management System (YMS) at LTG Infra significantly improved the management of siding operations, automating key processes and increasing railway traffic efficiency. The preparation of the YMS system, along with the Billing Management System (BMS), represents a key milestone in the project, highlighting LTG Infra’s technological advancement and supporting precise billing of carrier operations. Thanks to advanced graphical visualization, dynamic track management, and detailed reporting, LTG Infra achieved better control over railway traffic and infrastructure optimization.
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