Power Up Digital Freight Rail Operations

As a train arrives at its terminal, seamless service depends on more than just a punctual stop: the right crew must be on standby, the yard prepared for shunting, maintenance windows accounted for, and the network cleared for the next move. It’s not about reacting to disruption—it’s about planning every element of rail operations to work in sync, from timetable to turnaround.

In addition to daily challenges, freight rail companies must operate efficiently in the face of growing operations’ complexity and outdated IT systems or planning methods, various regulatory pressures and disruptive industry trends, and evolving environmental mandates. Integrated services delivery solutions have become essential for a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective rail network, as they offer an end-to-end experience covering all areas from fleet management, crew planning, terminal and yard operations, service and network optimization, or rolling stock maintenance.

Freight Rail companies must urgently establish efficient operations across their business. Relying on traditionally siloed systems and manual-based processes will overwhelm companies with inaccurate estimates of freight train arrival time, slow updates, empty container repositioning and disorganized tracking of rail cars.

Companies can gain visibility across all areas and time horizons by adopting an integrated planning and scheduling solution:

• Optimize crew operations, maximize efficient shift time and curb crew fatigue to mitigate the skilled workforce shortage
• Improve fleet management for punctual service delivery and streamlined operations, even when bottlenecks or disruptions occur
• Fully utilize rail network capacity and provide real-time information to customers for high-quality rail freight services
• Simulate resource allocation and yard planning to optimize terminal station activities and strengthen competitiveness
• Simplify end-to-end maintenance and maximize fleet reliability by integrating collaborative real-time asset data and predictive analytics
• Prioritize crucial KPIs, explore what-if scenarios and determine the best tradeoff for the company’s operational strategy

Watch the video to discover the extent of freight train challenges worldwide and how integrated planning can help.

Dassault Systèmes’ integrated planning solution leverages data science, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced simulation and the internet of things (IoT) within the virtual twin experience to help rail freight companies operate profitably, transport sustainably and implement best-in-class practices. When companies have control over every facet of their operations, they can make data-driven decisions that ensure operations remain reliable, safe, sustainable and affordable.

The collaborative environment of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform enables rail freight operations companies to get a full end-to-end integrated view of their operations. This capability allows for proactive anticipation of network disruptions, cost reduction, and expedited informed decision-making. With the Rail Freight Operations solution, companies can effectively manage their operational performance through a seamless connection among fleet planning, crew scheduling, terminal operations, service and network management, and maintenance, all while adhering to safety standards and regulatory compliance. They are equipped with the tools necessary to optimize all planning areas and time horizons, ranging from daily operations to long-term scheduling, ultimately enhancing the value of their service offerings and positioning for future business growth.