A Train Timetabling Model for Iranian Double-Tracks Railways

Train timetabling is one of the most important problems in railways systems. The framework of this problem is the same in different countries but in some countries, there is a special rule which makes special conditions on the modeling of this problem. In Iranian railways, praying causes an obligatory constraint because Muslims people have to pray 5 times a day. In this paper, we present a train timetabling model which allocates the best station where Muslims can pray. The goal of this model is to minimize the total train trips by considering allowed duration between trains stops and the time each Muslim could start his or her praying. The approach of the Iranian railways is to minimize this duration because it is important for Muslim to start their praying just on time. The model has implemented on one of the Iranian double tracks railways and the results show the total train trips increases by decreasing the duration.