Method and Apparatus for Operation of Railway Systems

A method is provided for operating a railway network having a number of trains, the method comprises operating a scheduling machine that is in communication with the railway network over a data communication system, to receive time separated state data defining states of the railway network at respective times. The scheduling machine accesses a model of the railway network that is stored in an electronic data source. The model defines locations in the railway network that allows for passing of trains and paths for journeys of each of the trains. The method includes operating the scheduling machine to apply the state data to the model to determine, at each of the respective times, controls associated with each trains' path for each of the trains. The scheduling machine is operated to determine the controls by optimizing a objective function for the trains, such as minimizing total travel time of the trains, taking into account the locations in the network, positions of the trains and paths of each of the trains. The controls are transmitted, via the data communication system, to control movement of the trains, for example by operation of railway network switches (points) and signal lights, through the railway network based on the controls.