SBB Cargo digitises short-term operations
Swiss rail operator SBB Cargo is improving its short-term operations and vehicle working schedules. To this end, the company has implemented digital optimisation solutions from IVU Traffic Technologies. The novelty is in line with SBB Cargo’s focus on digitalisation.
The current, 2021, year has become remarkable for SBB Cargo, the Swiss leading rail freight company, in improving its short-term operations and vehicle working schedules. In this regard, the national operator implemented the optimisation solutions featured in the IVU.rail digital platform, which was developed by IVU Traffic Technologies, the Berlin-based IT company, with partial contribution from LBW Optimization (its mathematicians participated in developing some optimisation algorithms).
“This solution, combined with duty schedule optimisation and automatic personnel dispatch, has significantly increased our degree of automation, and we are able to deploy our locomotives and staff even more efficiently. State-of-the-art algorithms assist planning experts with their work, which provides for even better solutions,” said Michel Thüring, Solution Engineer & Member of Executive Leadership Team IT at SBB Cargo.
Planning in cloud
SBB Cargo has been using digital products from IVU Traffic Technologies for several years. Initially, the Swiss rail freight operator implemented the IVU.rail solution for planning and dispatching its trains and personnel. The solution provides several options including network and timetable planning, duty and vehicle working scheduling, track occupancy, vehicle monitor, payroll accounting.
In August 2019 SBB Cargo started to plan its operations in the IVU.cloud solution. A month later, the company expanded the use of the cloud for efficient planning and dispatching of its staff in the stationary areas of sales, service and marketing. It is worth noting that SBB Cargo transports more than 200,000 tonnes of freight daily. This volume is handled by around 320 locomotives and 2,200 employees as well as with the help of IVU.rail solution.