Reinventing Crew Scheduling at Netherlands Railways

In this paper we describe the successful application of a sophisticated Operations Research model and the corresponding solution techniques for scheduling the 6,500+ drivers and conductors of the Dutch railway operator NS Reizigers (Netherlands Railways). In 2001 the drivers and conductors were very dissatisfied with the structure of their duties, which led to nation wide strikes. However, the application of the model described in this paper led to the development of an alternative production model (‘Sharing Sweet & Sour’) that both satisfied the drivers and conductors, and at the same time supported an increment of the punctuality and efficiency of the railway services. The plans produced according to the alternative production model trimmed personnel costs by about $4.8million (or1.2%) per year. Moreover, it was shown that cost reductions of over $7 million per year are also achievable. 5001-6182 Business 5201-5982 Business Science Library of Congress Classification (LCC) HE 147.7 Mathematical models, transportation M Business Administration and Business Economics M 11 R 4 Production Management Transportation Systems Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) C 61 Optimization Techniques 85 A Business General 260 K 240 B Logistics Information Systems Management European Business Schools Library Group (EBSLG) 260 Q Operations research, Transportation Gemeenschappelijke Onderwerpsontsluiting (GOO) 85.00 Bedrijfskunde, Organisatiekunde: algemeen 85.34 85.20 Logistiek management Bestuurlijke informatie, informatieverzorging Classification GOO 85.03 Methoden en technieken, operations research Bedrijfskunde / Bedrijfseconomie Bedrijfsprocessen, logistiek, management informatiesystemen