Route Selection of Multimodal Transportation Considering Rain and Snow Conditions

The examination of intermodal transportation route selection, considering rain and snow conditions, provides valuable insights into intermodal transportation paths across diverse climatic scenarios. This paper integrates considerations of cargo value, cargo damage during transportation, as well as rain and snow conditions, drawing on existing research in multimodal transportation path optimization. A multi-objective model is formulated to achieve the dual objectives of minimizing transportation costs and shortening transportation time. This model is then converted into a single-objective framework using standardized weighting techniques. Leveraging the commercial solver Gurobi, the model is computed, resulting in optimal transportation paths and modes for various cost and time weight combinations. Aligned with the climatic characteristics of regions along the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Corridor, the optimal solutions under varying rain or snow conditions and cost or time distribution are determined. Furthermore, a comparative assessment of economic and temporal efficiency is conducted for the corridor before and after the establishment of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railroad. The findings demonstrate that following the railroad's inception, especially with a significant emphasis on cost weight, substantial cost and time savings in transportation are achieved. Remarkably, as rain and snow conditions intensify, there is a notable surge in the cost savings rate within the optimal solution. The standard gauge demonstrates an enhancement from a savings rate of 30.6% under entirely dry conditions to 45.7% under fully icy conditions, while the broad gauge experiences an increase from 8.5% to 47.8%. However, the influence of rain and snow conditions on the time savings rate is comparatively modest.