Quantitative methods for train delay propagation research

Due to the increase in railway traffic, trains increasingly need to adhere to their scheduled path to avoid extensive propagation of delays. This paper presents the findings of a systematic literature review covering articles related to the delay propagation problems of trains. By searching both the Scopus and Web of Science databases, the content of 156 relevant papers was screened and analyzed. The different methods, including optimization, simulation, analytical methods, and data-driven methods, are reviewed. Then, key issues in establishing different models using these methods for the train delay propagation problem are addressed. This review provides a foundation for the different methods adopted to solve different aspects of train delay propagation problems, thus giving support to future research work related to train delay propagation problems.