Software Systems and Management Information Systems

Transheldrake has been involved in the development of several computer systems designed for the transportation industry. Through experience in the operating environment of rail, bus and fast ferry services Transheldrake has been in a position to incorporate ”hands on” experience into these software systems, so that they are useable management tools that assist in the management decision making process. Transheldrake has refined and developed an integrated operations package, the MALLARD SUITE, and has access to the Qsurvey system which it assisted in its development. These systems are bedrock systems for advanced operations planning, costing and survey analysis of transport services.

Train Scheduling and Track Analysis Software

MALLARD SUITE - An Overview

This suite of programs gives a powerful operations package superior to the other systems available in North America. Called the MALLARD SUITE (based on the world’s fastest steam locomotive an LNER class A4, 4468 Mallard) this package will produce operational schedules and timetables for a railway. In addition it will assess the base and advanced track and civil engineering input to the track systems required. Using part of the package timetables and schedules can be produced for bus and ferry operations. The MALLARD SUITE consists of the following elements.

LOON Track Designer Program, sets up a graphic track profile taken from existing track charts, this profile contains all the data on the track charts, curvature, sidings, number of tracks, turnouts, crossovers, bridges, crossings, signals, stations, interlocks, gradient, speed restrictions, underbalance and so on. This can then be modified to give an accurate assessment of the necessary changes and the engineering costs to achieve a particular scenario. Thus it provides an online data base, which can be used to provide both engineering costs and available track speed improvements, as well as current track data. This data can be shown in better detail than is possible in printed form.

MALLARD Train Performance Program, takes the data and track profile from LOON and operates a virtual train on the LOON profile, thus producing a schedule for the train type, on any or all sections of the track. MALLARD can also make up its own track profile in “a what” if scenario, with simply the basic curve, station and speed restriction data. Train types include locomotive and train data from existing North American locomotives as well as examples of European high speed train types, e.g., the IC3, TGV Atlantique, P40, and EMD F40. Additional train types can be added providing that acceleration and braking data is available.

PINTAIL Train Timetable Program produces timetables suitable for both office and public use. This program either takes input from MALLARD or independent data entry. The timetables can show the complete service for all trains on the route.

TEAL Timetable and Economic analysis program take the output from MALLARD the capital costs from LOON and the timetable scenario from PINTAIL and produce a comprehensive operational cost data base with projected costs on an extended yearly period, typically twenty years.

Transheldrake’s MALLARD SUITE provides an all encompassing package to produce detailed strategic plans for a given set of scenarios. The strategy plans range from the capital cost of the engineering improvements, through to the train speed improvements and the resulting operating costs of the total service provided, on an annual basis.

Surveys

Transheldrake staff have been involved in the design and execution of surveys for all modes of transport since the 1970's. This included passenger attitudinal research, industrial surveys, and stated and revealed preference surveys. Transheldrake staff pioneered the development of survey software QSurvey, using light pen and bar-code data capture. This system utilizes Psion Organisers hand held computers. Thus, the data entry stages are eliminated, and analysis can be undertaken directly after the data has been downloaded to a PC.

Industrial surveys are achieved by extensive use of Government ISC data. Profiles of freight traffic generated by a particular region can be appraised. This is particularly useful for rail freight terminals, ports, or airports in assessing their potential demand.

Ticketing

Transheldrake has advised and designed several ticketing systems for the bus and ferry industry, with the availability of hand held computers, ticketing systems can be as complicated as the accountants require. However they may not be adept at collecting data that will support serious analysis later. Transheldrake’s operational and strategic involvement in the transport industry has given it a unique opportunity to assess the necessary statistics needed for the efficient operation of a transport business.