Process mining of train describer event data and automatic conflict identification

Abstract

Data records from train describer systems are a valuable source of information for analysing railway operations performance and assessing railway timetable quality. This paper presents a process mining tool based on event data records from the Dutch train describer system TROTS, including algorithms developed for the automatic identification of route conflicts with conflicting trains, arrival and departure times/delays at stations, and train paths on track section and blocking time level. Visualisations of the time-distance diagrams and blocking time diagrams support the analysis of incidents, track obstructions, disruptions, and structural errors in the timetable design. © 2012 WIT Press.