Logistics management of the rail connections using graph theory: the case of a public transportation company on the example of Koleje Dolnośląskie S.A.

Abstract The main purpose of the paper was the structural analysis of the connections network used by a railway carrier Koleje Dolnośląskie S.A. operating in southern Poland. The analysis used simulation methods. The analysis and simulation were based on graph theory, which is successfully used in analysing a wide variety of networks (social, biological, computer, virtual and transportation networks). The paper presents indicators which allow judging the analysed connections network according to an appropriate level of transport services. Simulation results allowed proposing some modifications for the improvement of the analysed connections network. The paper also demonstrates that graph theory and network simulations should be used as tools by transportation companies during the stage of planning a connections network.