Cant u sort of simulate the expected scenarios and get sort-of expected performance?
I realize there is unexpected events, but these will occur anyway in old and new schedules
Also - does real train software has nice graphics or do u get a boring excel ? ;(
As for software, the optimization of rail slot allocation is far beyond spreadhseets - for the whole French network it is a math-heavy process for which a whole team harnesses a bunch of specialist software. More about the process (in French): https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01423840/document
This is really good.
Hence, each time a schedule changes there is an uptick of accidents, disruptions, missed trains, overcrowding, etc until all adjust to this new timetable.