This paper is concerned with the effect of the track layout on the capacity
, as measured by the throughput rate of trains, of a railway terminus. We p
resent a network representation of permitted train movements and formulate
an integer program that determines optimum throughput rates. By applying th
e model to a series of ideal track layouts that are derived from a well-kno
wn 3-platform layout, we are able to confirm the surmised optimum throughpu
t. The model is also used to analyse the capacity of some existing stations
. There is some discussion of operational issues. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science
Ltd. All rights reserved.