Railway transport scheduling

The organization and command of daily railway transportation production are uniformly implemented by the dispatching agencies established by the railway transportation departments.

While railway transportation dispatching work varies from country to country, its main contents all include train operation and wagon allocation. Train operation refers to the command of train operation, while wagon allocation refers to the planning and organization of freight car loading and unloading and train departure, as well as the adjustment of traffic flow.

Train command is the transportation dispatching work carried out to ensure that trains run on time according to the train timetable. Train operation command implements a single command system by the train dispatcher, meaning that all orders and instructions related to train operation can only be issued by the on-duty train dispatcher; relevant train operation personnel must execute the train dispatcher's orders and obey the dispatcher's commands.

Each section commanded by a train dispatcher is called a dispatching section, and its length is determined according to the traffic volume, freight volume, and equipment conditions of the section. Usually, a dispatching section includes one locomotive traction section. However, on directions with low traffic volume or those equipped with automated train command equipment, a dispatching section may include several traction sections; conversely, a traction section may also be divided into several dispatching sections.

Train dispatchers continuously receive train operation information from their assigned dispatch section using dispatch telephones and train radios. Based on the actual train operation, they take corresponding operational adjustment measures to ensure adherence to the train timetable. Adjustment measures that train dispatchers can take include: accelerating train operations, changing passing points or passing methods, organizing trains traveling in the opposite direction, merging trains, and adding connecting trains. Orders for these adjustments are issued to stations through train operation adjustment plans, and their implementation is monitored by filling out actual timetables.