RR-01 RR-01-01-01 — Operating Plan Design
The process of designing an operating plan for a US Class I freight railroad involves various steps from initial planning to final execution, ensuring efficient train movements and compliance with regulations.
🗺 BPMN Process Flow
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📋 Process Attributes
| Process ID | RR-01-01-01 |
|---|---|
| Domain Family | NETWORK & PLANNING |
| L1 Domain | Service Design & Network Planning |
| L2 Process Group | Operating Plan Design |
| Trigger | Annual review or update of the Unified Plan 2020 by the Manager of Train Operations |
| Outcome | A comprehensive operating plan that optimizes train schedules, minimizes delays, and ensures safety and efficiency across the network. |
| Systems | Unified Plan 2020 NetControl CADx I-ETMS EHMS |
| Regulatory Hooks | 49 CFR 232.205 GCOR 6.28 |
📋 L4 Process Steps
| Step | Name | Role | System | Input | Output | KPI | Pain Point / Risk | Decision? | Exception? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Review Current Operating Plan | Manager of Train Operations | Unified Plan 2020 | Current operating plan document | Updated operating plan outline | Number of trains on schedule above 95% | Inconsistent train schedules leading to delays | N | N |
| 1.2 | Identify Network Constraints | Train Dispatcher | NetControl | Network traffic data, track capacity reports | List of network constraints and potential bottlenecks | Number of identified constraints below 5% | Overloaded tracks causing excessive delays | Y | N |
| 1.3 | Develop New Train Schedules | Train Dispatcher | NetControl / CADx | Updated operating plan outline, network constraints list | New train schedules | Number of trains with optimized routes above 80% | Inefficient routing leading to increased travel times | Y | N |
| 1.4 | Review and Validate Schedules | Chief Dispatcher | I-ETMS | New train schedules, traffic data | Validated train schedules | Number of schedule conflicts below 2% | Schedule conflicts causing delays and safety risks | Y | N |
| 1.5 | Update Equipment Health Records | Mechanical Foreman | EHMS | Equipment maintenance logs, health check reports | Updated equipment health records | Number of trains with critical equipment issues below 1% | Equipment failures leading to train delays | Y | N |
| 1.6 | Conduct Hazardous Material Review | Hazmat Specialist | TRANSCAER / GCOR | Hazardous material manifests, safety protocols | Safety compliance report | Number of hazardous materials incidents below 0.5% | Hazmat incidents causing delays and safety risks | Y | N |
| 1.7 | Implement New Operating Plan | Manager of Train Operations | Unified Plan 2020 / NetControl | Validated train schedules, updated equipment health records, safety compliance report | Implemented operating plan | Number of trains running on schedule above 90% | Implementation issues leading to delays | N | Y |
| 1.8 | Monitor and Adjust Operating Plan | Train Dispatcher | NetControl / CADx | Real-time train data, network performance metrics | Adjusted operating plan | Number of adjustments below 10% | Inability to adjust plans in real-time leading to delays | Y | N |
| 1.9 | Review and Report Performance | Manager of Train Operations | Unified Plan 2020 / NetControl | Operating plan performance data, KPIs | Performance report | Number of KPI targets met above 85% | Poor performance metrics leading to service issues | N | Y |
| 1.10 | Update Documentation and Procedures | Train Dispatcher | Unified Plan 2020 / NetControl | Performance report, feedback from operations | Updated documentation and procedures | Number of updated documents above 95% | Outdated procedures leading to inefficiencies | N | N |
| 1.11 | Conduct Safety Audit | Safety Inspector | EHMS / I-ETMS | Operational data, safety protocols | Safety audit report | Number of safety violations below 1% | Safety violations leading to accidents | Y | N |
| 1.12 | Finalize and Communicate Plan | Manager of Train Operations | Unified Plan 2020 / NetControl | Implemented operating plan, safety audit report | Finalized operating plan document | Number of trains running on schedule above 95% | Communication issues leading to misinterpretation of plans | N | Y |
📊 KPIs & Risk Register
KPIs
Number of trains on schedule above 95% Number of trains with optimized routes above 80% Number of schedule conflicts below 2% Number of trains with critical equipment issues below 1% Number of hazardous materials incidents below 0.5% Number of adjustments below 10% Number of KPI targets met above 85% Number of safety violations below 1%
Key Risks
Inconsistent train schedules leading to delays Overloaded tracks causing excessive delays Equipment failures leading to train delays Hazmat incidents causing delays and safety risks Implementation issues leading to delays Safety violations leading to accidents
Swim Lanes
Manager of Train Operations · 1.1, 1.7, 1.9, 1.10, 1.12 Train Dispatcher · 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.8 Chief Dispatcher · 1.5 Mechanical Foreman · 1.6 Hazmat Specialist ·