Algorithm for Making the Optimal Decision for Further Operation of Freight Cars

The article deals with the methodology of selecting the optimal decision for the maintenance and operation of freight cars. The statistics of failures for the main units of freight cars has been collected. A hypothesis has been proposed about the method of selecting a decision based on the optimality criterion, i.e. the maximum profit. The optimality criterion is the difference between the income and the costs and is the function of the frequency of certain operations on each of the car units. An algorithm has been developed that allows for the effective optimization of the processes of operating, repairing, and writing-off the cars, ensuring an increase in the competitiveness of rail transport due to the rational use of resources and optimization (reduction) of costs.