YARD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Turning yard complexity into measurable throughput — through real-time visibility, structured switching, and disciplined execution.

How the System Works

Yard Performance Drives Network Economics

Yards are where network performance is won or lost. Wagon cycle time — the single most direct driver of EBITDA per asset — is determined largely by what happens between arrival and departure. Unstructured switching, poor visibility of incoming trains, and manual coordination between yard supervisors and the control centre accumulate into hours of dwell that cannot be recovered downstream.

Structured Execution, Real-Time Visibility

ART’s Yard Management System brings structure, visibility, and execution discipline to every stage of yard operations. From real-time position of wagons and locomotives, to scenario-based shunting planning and digital work order dispatch, the system enables yard supervisors to plan for actual train arrivals — not react to them.

Predictable Yards. Measurable Results.

The result is a yard that operates predictably. Shorter wagon dwell. Reliable train departures. Measurable improvement in asset utilization — and a direct path to EBITDA improvement.

What It Does

Core Capabilities

Real-time railcar and locomotive position visibility on graphical yard map

Scenario-based shunting planning — drag-and-drop wagon allocation

Advance train arrival planning — ETA-based scheduling of shunting activities

Digital work order dispatch to yard crews

Production plan management — departure and arrival train coordination

KPI monitoring — wagon dwell, turnaround time, shunting adherence to plan

Alarm system for operational deviations — real-time gap vs. plan

Management reporting — best/worst yard, crew performance, bottleneck identification

Integration with ERP, maintenance, and asset management systems

Yard performance becomes predictable — and measurable.

System Architecture

A connected system that unifies real-time visibility, planning, and execution — enabling precise, efficient yard operations across any environment.

YMS

web-based yard operations platform, deployable across one or multiple yards without on-premise infrastructure

Graphical yard map

real-time position of wagons and locomotives per track line, with drag-and-drop operation

Planning and scheduling engine

scenario-based shunting planning anchored to actual train arrival ETAs

Work order management

digital dispatch of shunting instructions to yard crews

KPI and reporting layer

dwell, turnaround, and adherence metrics available in real time and historically

Integration with Active Train Control and Movement Planner

shared arrival and departure data for synchronized yard planning

Open API

connects to scheduling, operational, and planning systems

Execution-driven architecture designed for operational precision — accessible from any browser, deployable in any yard.

Operational Outcomes

Reduced wagon dwell time — the primary driver of cycle time improvement

Shorter wagon cycle time — more trips per asset without fleet expansion

Higher yard throughput — more trains formed and dispatched per day

Improved crew productivity — structured, digitally dispatched work orders

Fewer cascading network delays caused by late departures

Elimination of over-allocation and under-allocation of shunting locomotives

Real-time visibility of asset status and position across the yard

Consistent adherence to departure schedules

Yard turnaround time is wagon cycle time. Controlling one controls the other.

*Yard turnaround time represents approximately 60% of total wagon cycle time.*

How We Deploy

Deployment & Integration

  • Online deployment — YMS is delivered as a web-based platform, accessible from any browser without on-premise infrastructure or client installation
  • Fast rollout — a single yard can be operational in weeks, not months. Multiple yards can be added progressively under the same platform.
  • No dependency on ART on-board equipment — YMS integrates via API with existing locomotive and operational systems
  • Integration with Active Train Control and Movement Planner — train arrival ETAs feed directly into yard planning
  • Open API — connects to scheduling, ERP, and operational platforms

Any yard. Any size. Up and running before the next planning cycle.

Why ART

Generic yard management tools track assets.

ART’s Yard Management System plans for them — and connects yard execution directly to network planning.

When a Movement Planner feeds arrival ETAs into yard planning, and the Yard Management System dispatches optimized shunting sequences accordingly, the network and the yard stop working against each other.

That integration is where the real cycle time gains live.