Multiobjective optimization of railway cold-chain transportation route based on dynamic train information

Freight train is selected to pick up and hang refrigerated containers according to railway freight train diagram in China. A multiobjective optimization model of railway cold-chain transportation route is established with total, time, and reliability costs as objective functions on the basis of dynamic train information. Different weights of three objective functions are obtained and weighted sum method is used to transform the multiobjective problem into a single-objective problem according to different transport demands of railway cold-chain transportation participants. An example of k short-circuit optimization algorithm based on genetic algorithm (GA) is designed to prove the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model. The empirical analysis showed that different transport times can be obtained by adjusting weights of various optimization objectives in the model to meet diverse needs of railway cold-chain transport participants and selecting differentiated shifts and transfer stations on the same route to provide a variety of transportation time limit options. Results of this study can provide guidance to decision makers in choosing railway transportation schemes.