Application of the clustering challenge to new railway lines

Abstract

The paper examines the possibility of adapting the clustering problem solving methodology by identifying the locations where the centers of newly constructed (or additionally connected) international railway lines could be located. The centers may be provided for the maintenance machinery base, the rolling stock depot, the freight terminal or for the purpose of line management. In order to solve the problem of clustering of an international railway line, depending on the intended purpose of the centers of weighted , it is suggested to evaluate such indicators as gross domestic product, population, area and length of railway network of countries. The Amsterdam-Tallinn route is an example. In doing so, the author proposes a methodology for identifying disproportionate areas away from socio-economic centers where the related problems of railroad development may arise.