SIMULATION MODELLING OF VITÓRIA-MINAS CLOSED-LOOP RAIL NETWORK

Abstract

This paper presents a closed loop simulation model that represents the mining logistics chain of the Vitória Minas Railway (VMR), Brazil. The simulator includes the loading process, circulation of loaded trains, unloading of ores for external and internal markets and the distribution of empty trains for new loads. General cargo and passengers trains are also included in the model, which, along with the queues formed in the circulation and the preventive and corrective maintenance of rolling stock, tracks and equipment, interfere with the transportation of iron ore. The primary objective of the iron ore transport is to meet the daily loading and unloading schedules and minimize queues by maximizing the operations at the loading and unloading points. The VMR simulator developed uses macro-mesoscopic approach with Monte Carlo simulation. To validate the simulator, we used actual data of the railway and compared with reality. We obtained a very good adhesion to the value of 2.9% for the validation scenario (Scenario 1) and 3.4% for the scenario with reducing the number of lots of wagons (Scenario 2). We concluded with this simulation that it is possible to reduce the number of GDE wagons without reducing the current level of productivity of the rail system.

Keywords

• Railway
• simulation
• closed loop
• heavy haul