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Robust Timetabling for Railway Systems - Period 4
Honors Program Program
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dates: late Jan 2026 - late Jun 2026
Robust Timetabling for Railway Systems - Period 4
OVERVIEW
CEA CAPA Partner Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Primary Subject Area: Mathematics
Instruction in: English
Transcript Source: Partner Institution
Course Details: Level 400
Recommended Semester Credits: 3
Contact Hours: 84
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of mathematics is required.
DESCRIPTION
This course is also open for 1st years students Computer Science, Business Analytics, Mathematics, Econometrics & Operations Research
The railways are an essential part of the Dutch public transportation infrastructure. Despite the effort in time and money invested into the railway systems, the system is perceived as not operating at the desired level of reliability. So, why is it so hard to come up with a reliable timetable for the railways? This course will delve into the problem of designing periodic timetables for railways. Surprisingly enough an exotic algebra from mathematics helps tackling the problem. We will enter the realm of this exotic algebra, where, for instance, it is true that 3+7=7 and 3 x7=10, and we see how this can be turned into a natural language for the analysis trains. Though trains will be the main topic of our lectures we will also present surprising applications of the technique for development of rescue robots.
The course is self-contained as the mathematical theory used in this course is based on an exotic algebra, which levels the advantage students with a (strong) mathematical background may have. While having timetable design as guiding problem, we will have ample opportunity to discuss and understand some of the fundamental philosophical and logical problems of the foundation mathematics: This is a course about mathematics rather than a mathematics course.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA?s recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.
This is an Honors course.
The railways are an essential part of the Dutch public transportation infrastructure. Despite the effort in time and money invested into the railway systems, the system is perceived as not operating at the desired level of reliability. So, why is it so hard to come up with a reliable timetable for the railways? This course will delve into the problem of designing periodic timetables for railways. Surprisingly enough an exotic algebra from mathematics helps tackling the problem. We will enter the realm of this exotic algebra, where, for instance, it is true that 3+7=7 and 3 x7=10, and we see how this can be turned into a natural language for the analysis trains. Though trains will be the main topic of our lectures we will also present surprising applications of the technique for development of rescue robots.
The course is self-contained as the mathematical theory used in this course is based on an exotic algebra, which levels the advantage students with a (strong) mathematical background may have. While having timetable design as guiding problem, we will have ample opportunity to discuss and understand some of the fundamental philosophical and logical problems of the foundation mathematics: This is a course about mathematics rather than a mathematics course.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA?s recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.
This is an Honors course.