A Survey on Container Processing in Rail- way Yards: Decision Problems, Optimization Procedures and Research Challenges

In spite of extraordinary support programs initiated by the European Union and other national authorities, the percentage of overall freight tra c moved by train is in steady decline. This development is driven by the fact that macro-economic bene ts of rail tra c, such as relief of overloaded road networks and reduced environmental impacts, are countervailed by severe disadvantages from the perspective of the shipper, e.g., low average delivery speed and general lack of reliability. Attracting a higher share of freight tra c on rail requires a more e cient freight handling in railway yards, which includes technical ∗This work has been supported by the German Science Foundation (DFG) with the grant Optimierung der Containerabfertigung in Umschlagbahnhöfen (BO 3148/1-1 and PE 514/16-1).