A Fuzzy Group Decision Making for a Rail-Road Transshipment Yard Micro Locaton Problem

Abstract

Rail-road transhipment yards serve as interchange points between rail and road providing transhipment of loading units. These yards are of great importance for smooth functioning not only of railways but also of the whole intermodal transportation chains. The problem of choosing location of railway facilities, such as yards and depots, has great practical importance and is widely considered in the literature. In this paper, we present a multi criteria decision making (MCMD) model for selecting the most suitable micro location of a rail-road transhipment yard. The developed MCMD model is based on combining a compromise programming technique with the theory of fuzzy numbers. This approach was chosen to solve the considered location problem due to the specific decision-making environment that reflects in the presence of non-commensurable and conflicting criteria. As a case study we analysed several alternatives for locating rail-road transhipment facilities in the area of the rail freight yard in Vršac. The results confirm validity and usefulness of this approach.