RR-01 RR-01-03-01 — Car Trip Plan Management
This process involves the creation and management of car trip plans for US Class I freight railroad operations, ensuring efficient train movements, compliance with regulations, and optimal use of resources.
🗺 BPMN Process Flow
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📋 Process Attributes
| Process ID | RR-01-03-01 |
|---|---|
| Domain Family | NETWORK & PLANNING |
| L1 Domain | Service Design & Network Planning |
| L2 Process Group | Car Trip Plan Management |
| Trigger | Initiated by a Service Design / Network Planning Analyst upon receiving updated traffic forecasts or changes in network conditions. |
| Outcome | Successful completion results in the implementation of an optimized car trip plan that maximizes rail capacity, minimizes delays, and adheres to all regulatory requirements. |
| Systems | Unified Plan 2020 NetControl (service design use) NetControl / CADx (Computer-Aided Dispatch) I-ETMS (Interoperable Electronic Train Management System) PS Technology (PST) EHMS (Equipment Health Management System) |
| Regulatory Hooks | 49 CFR Part 232 GCOR (General Code of Operating Rules) |
📋 L4 Process Steps
| Step | Name | Role | System | Input | Output | KPI | Pain Point / Risk | Decision? | Exception? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Car Trip Plan Creation | Service Design / Network Planning Analyst | Unified Plan 2020; NetControl (service design use) | Traffic forecasts, network conditions data | Initial car trip plan draft | Plan creation time under 4 hours | Balancing capacity with regulatory constraints | Y | N |
| 1.2 | Regulatory Compliance Review | Service Design / Network Planning Analyst | Unified Plan 2020; NetControl (service design use) | Initial car trip plan draft, regulatory guidelines | Compliant car trip plan | Regulatory compliance check time under 3 hours | Ensuring adherence to complex regulations | Y | Y |
| 1.3 | Train Dispatcher Approval | Train Dispatcher | NetControl / CADx (Computer-Aided Dispatch) | Compliant car trip plan | Approved car trip plan | Dispatcher approval time under 2 hours | Coordinating with multiple train movements | Y | N |
| 1.4 | Crew Assignment | Train Dispatcher; Crew Caller / Crew Dispatcher | NetControl / CADx (Computer-Aided Dispatch); PS Technology (PST) | Approved car trip plan, crew availability data | Assigned crews list | Crew assignment time under 1 hour | Ensuring adequate staffing | Y | Y |
| 1.5 | Equipment Health Check | Locomotive Engineer; Car Inspector (Carman) | EHMS (Equipment Health Management System); TRAIN II (Tele Rail Automated Information Network Phase 2) | Assigned crews list, equipment status data | Health check report | Equipment health check completion rate above 95% | Identifying and addressing equipment issues | Y | N |
| 1.6 | Train Departure Preparation | Locomotive Engineer; Conductor; Brakeman/Trainman | NetControl / CADx (Computer-Aided Dispatch) | Health check report, departure instructions | Prepared train for departure | Train preparation time under 3 hours | Ensuring all systems are operational | Y | N |
| 1.7 | En Route Monitoring | Control Operator; Chief Dispatcher | I-ETMS (Interoperable Electronic Train Management System); NetControl / CADx (Computer-Aided Dispatch) | Train departure, real-time data | En route status updates | Train speed above 20 mph | Dealing with unexpected delays | Y | Y |
| 1.8 | Terminal Arrival and Dwell Time Management | Yardmaster; Switchman/Switch Foreman | NetControl / CADx (Computer-Aided Dispatch) | En route status updates, terminal capacity data | Optimized arrival schedule | Terminal dwell under 24 hours | Managing high traffic volumes | Y | N |
| 1.9 | Post-Arrival Inspection and Maintenance | Car Inspector (Carman); Locomotive Engineer | EHMS (Equipment Health Management System) | Optimized arrival schedule, equipment condition data | Inspection report | Post-arrival inspection completion rate above 90% | Identifying and addressing post-trip issues | Y | Y |
| 1.10 | Car Trip Plan Review and Adjustment | Service Design / Network Planning Analyst; VP Network Planning & Operations | Unified Plan 2020; NetControl (service design use) | Inspection report, performance data | Adjusted car trip plan | Plan review and adjustment cycle time under 5 hours | Continuous improvement of plans | Y | N |
| 1.11 | Interline Settlement Data Exchange | Service Design / Network Planning Analyst; VP Network Planning & Operations | ISS (Interline Settlement System) / SSDX (Switching Settlement Data Exchange) | Adjusted car trip plan, settlement data | Settlement agreement | Settlement agreement time under 2 hours | Coordinating with other railroads | Y | N |
| 1.12 | Final Car Trip Plan Implementation | Train Dispatcher; Crew Caller / Crew Dispatcher | NetControl / CADx (Computer-Aided Dispatch) | Settlement agreement, final plan adjustments | Implemented car trip plan | Implementation time under 1 hour | Executing changes during high traffic | N | Y |
📊 KPIs & Risk Register
KPIs
Plan creation time under 4 hours Regulatory compliance check time under 3 hours Dispatcher approval time under 2 hours Crew assignment time under 1 hour Equipment health check completion rate above 95% Train preparation time under 3 hours Train speed above 20 mph Terminal dwell under 24 hours Post-arrival inspection completion rate above 90% Plan review and adjustment cycle time under 5 hours Settlement agreement time under 2 hours Implementation time under 1 hour
Key Risks
Air brake test defect released to the road Regulatory non-compliance due to oversight Equipment failure leading to delays Traffic congestion causing excessive dwell times Inadequate crew staffing resulting in operational disruptions
Swim Lanes
Service Design / Network Planning Analyst · 1.1, 1.2, 1.10, 1.11 Train Dispatcher · 1.3, 1.6, 1.12 Crew Caller / Crew Dispatcher · 1.4, 1.12 Locomotive Engineer · 1.5, 1.6, 1.9 Conductor · 1.6 Brakeman/Trainman · 1.6 Yardmaster · 1.8 Switchman/Switch Foreman · 1.8 Car Inspector (Carman) · 1.5, 1.9 Control Operator · 1.7 Chief Dispatcher · 1.7 VP Network Planning & Operations · 1.10, 1.11