Professor
Supervisor of Doctorate Candidates
Supervisor of Master's Candidates
Date of Employment:2010-07-06
School/Department:Traffic and Transportation Engineering
Administrative Position:Chair of the Department of Transportation
Education Level:With Certificate of Graduation for Doctorate Study
Business Address:Room 301, Transportation Building, Railway Campus, Central South University
Sex:Male
Contact Information:Email:zwl_0631@csu.edu.cn
Degree:Doctoral degree
Status:Employed
Alma Mater:Central South University
**Prof. Wenliang Zhou**
Professor | Master's/Doctoral Supervisor | Postdoctoral Supervisor
Chair of the Department of Transportation | Hunan Provincial Young Backbone Teacher
**Education & Academic Experience**
- Ph.D. and M.S. in Transportation Planning and Management, Central South University
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Management Science and Engineering, Central South University
- Visiting Scholar, University of Nevada, USA
**Research Focus**
Optimization of rail transit operation organization
**Academic Profile**
With a rigorous and meticulous approach to scientific research and dedicated mentorship, Prof. Zhou has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers in high-impact journals, including *Transportation Research Part B/C*, *Information Sciences*, *Journal of the China Railway Society*, *China Railway Science*, and *Journal of Railway Science and Engineering*. He serves as a reviewer for authoritative journals such as *Transportation Research Part A/B/C/E*. He holds 21 authorized patents and software copyrights, and has authored/co-authored 3 academic books. He has frequently led student teams to present research at international conferences including TRB and INFORMS.
**Research Projects**
In recent years, Prof. Zhou has led or participated in 17 research and teaching projects, including:
- 3 projects as Principal Investigator funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
- 1 project under the National Key R&D Program of Ministry of Science and Technology
- 2 projects fundd by the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation
- 1 educational reform project
- Multiple industry-collaboration (horizontal) projects
**Teaching Responsibilities**
- Core courses for Transportation majors: *Railway Passenger Transport*, *Railway Freight Organization*
- Supervision of graduate students participating in international/domestic competitions: International Rail Transit Discipline Competition, National Transportation Science and Technology Competition, Logistics Science and Technology Competition
**Research Team & Resources**
Prof. Zhou is a core member of the Rail Transit Operation Research Institute, School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University. The research group offers abundant resources, including experimental facilities, simulation platforms, industry-university collaboration opportunities, overseas study channels, and sufficient research funding, within a supportive and collaborative academic environment.
**Prospective Students Welcome**
Students from disciplines including Transportation, Traffic Engineering, Management Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science are encouraged to apply.
**Graduate Recruitment Plan**
- Doctoral candidates: 1–2 per year
- Master's candidates: 2–3 per year (positions currently available)
**Admissible Programs**
- Full-time Academic Degree: Transportation Engineering (0823)
- Full-time Professional Degree: Transportation (0861)
**Research Directions**
- Optimization of rail transit operation organization
- Multi-modal transportation collaborative optimization
- Large language models for rail transit
- Data-driven traffic flow modeling and optimization
**Selected Representative Publications**
【1】Zhou, W., & Teng, H. (2016). Simultaneous passenger train routing and timetabling using an efficient train-based Lagrangian relaxation decomposition. *Transportation Research Part B: Methodological*, *94*, 409–439. (First author; JCR-Q1, CAS Tier-1 Top Journal)
【2】Zhou, W., Tian, J., Xue, L., Jiang, M., Deng, L., & Qin, J. (2017). Multi-periodic train timetabling using a period-type-based Lagrangian relaxation decomposition. *Transportation Research Part B: Methodological*, *105*, 144–173. (First author; JCR-Q1, CAS Tier-1 Top Journal)
【3】Chai, N., Zhou, W.*, & Jiang, Z. (2023). Sustainable supplier selection using an intuitionistic and interval-valued fuzzy MCDM approach based on cumulative prospect theory. *Information Sciences*, *626*, 710–737. (Corresponding author; JCR-Q1, CAS Tier-1 Top Journal; ESI Highly Cited Paper)
【4】Zhou, W., Huang, Y., Deng, L., & Qin, J. (2023). Collaborative optimization of energy-efficient train schedule and train circulation plan for urban rail. *Energy*, *263*(Part A), 125599. (First author; JCR-Q1, CAS Tier-1 Top Journal)
【5】Huang, Y., Zhou, W.*, Qin, J., & Deng, L. (2023). Optimization of energy-efficiency train schedule considering passenger demand and rolling stock circulation plan of subway line. *Energy*, *275*, 127475. (Corresponding author; JCR-Q1, CAS Tier-1 Top Journal)
【6】Huang, Y., Zhou, W.*, Xu, G., & Deng, L. (2025). Integrated demand-oriented and energy-efficiency train timetabling and rolling stock circulation planning for an urban rail transit line. *Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies*, *171*, 104993. (Corresponding author; JCR-Q1, CAS Tier-1 Top Journal)
**Research & Teaching Projects**
【1】Intelligent Compilation Technology and Application of Train Diagram for High-Density High-Speed Rail Networks under Resource Constraints. China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. Provincial-level. 2024.11–2026.12. Budget: ¥200,000. Role: Host at participating institution.
【2】Specialized Technical Services for Passenger Flow Forecasting and Operation Simulation. Inspur Communication Information System Co., Ltd. Horizontal project. 2024.01–2025.12. Budget: ¥735,000. Role: Participant.
【3】Collaborative Optimization of Multi-Version Train Operation Plans for Intercity Railways Considering Multi-Day Travel Demand. National Natural Science Foundation of China. National-level (NSFC General Program). 2025.01–2028.12. Budget: ¥400,000. Role: Principal Investigator.
【4】Train Path Compilation Technology for Mixed Passenger-Freight Operations with Multiple Speed Grades on the Sichuan-Tibet Railway. Ministry of Science and Technology. National-level (National Key R&D Program). 2023.12–2026.12. Budget: ¥500,000. Role: Task Leader.
【5】Key Technologies and Management Mechanisms for Intelligent Compilation of "Headquarters-Level" High-Speed Rail Train Diagrams. China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. Provincial-level. 2023.07–2025.12. Budget: ¥300,000. Role: Host at participating institution.
【6】Operation Management Consulting Services for Hunan Intercity Railway Co., Ltd. Hunan Intercity Railway Co., Ltd. Municipal-level. 2023.07–2023.08. Budget: ¥240,000. Role: Principal Investigator.
【7】Key Technologies for Train Diagram Compilation Based on Precise Matching of Market Demand and Transport Capacity. China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. Provincial-level. 2022.11–2024.06. Budget: ¥500,000. Role: Host at participating institution.
【8】Robust Optimization of Intercity Railway Train Operation Plans Adapting to Multi-Day Time-Varying Demand. Hunan Provincial Department of Science and Technology. Provincial-level (Hunan NSF General Program). 2022.01–2024.12. Budget: ¥100,000. Role: Principal Investigator.
【9】Integrated Optimization of Train Service Planning, Pricing, and Seat Allocation for Intercity Rail Networks under Demand Orientation. National Natural Science Foundation of China. National-level (NSFC General Program). 2019.01–2022.12. Budget: ¥480,000. Role: Principal Investigator.
【10】Theory and Methodology for Periodic Train Diagram Compilation of High-Speed Rail under Large-Scale Complex Network Conditions. National Natural Science Foundation of China. National-level (NSFC Joint Fund for High-Speed Rail, Key Program). 2020.01–2023.12. Budget: ¥2,310,000. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.
【11】Urban Traffic Congestion Mitigation Strategies Based on Adjusting Urban Rail Transit Travel Structure. Hunan Provincial Department of Science and Technology. Provincial-level (Hunan NSF Youth Program). 2018.01–2020.12. Budget: ¥50,000. Role: Principal Investigator.
【12】Theory and Key Technologies for Intelligent Compilation of High-Speed Rail Train Diagrams. China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. Provincial-level. 2021.11–2023.12. Budget: ¥540,000. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.
【13】Key Technologies for Transport Organization of High-Speed Rail under Networked Operation Conditions. China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd. Municipal-level. 2018.06–2020.06. Budget: ¥490,000. Role: Principal Investigator.
【14】Simulation of Handling Capacity for High-Speed Maglev Stations. China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd. Municipal-level. 2020.04–2020.12. Budget: ¥300,000. Role: Principal Investigator.
【15】Design and Development of Simulation and Verification System for Networked Train Diagrams of Guangzhou Metro. Guangzhou Metro Corporation. Municipal-level. 2017.03–2019.12. Budget: ¥760,000. Role: Participant.
【16】Exploration and Practice of Normalized Cultivation of International Students in Transportation Disciplines. Central South University. University-level (Educational Reform Program). 2019.01–2021.12. Budget: ¥20,000. Role: Principal Investigator.
【17】Optimization of Train Operation Plans for Intercity Rail Networks Based on Time-Varying Demand and Multi-Period Combination. National Natural Science Foundation of China. National-level (NSFC Youth Program). 2015.01–2017.12. Budget: ¥210,000. Role: Principal Investigator.
Name of Research Group:Rail Transit Operation Research Institute
Description of Research Group:The teaching and research endeavors in rail transit operation at Central South University trace their origins to the establishment of the Department of Railway Transportation and the Railway Transportation Major upon the founding of Changsha Railway University in 1953. The Rail Transit Operation Research Institute was formally established in November 2010 as part of the departmental restructuring and reform within the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering.
The Institute is built upon the National Key Discipline of Transportation Engineering (First-Level), the First-Level Discipline Doctoral Program, and the Postdoctoral Research Station. It focuses on rail transit operation management research, with distinctive strengths in operation organization optimization for high-speed rail, urban and intercity rail transit, transportation organization optimization, and intelligent information systems. The core research team comprises 6 professors, 12 associate professors, 4 lecturers, and approximately 100 doctoral and master's students.
The Institute's overarching development goal is to serve China's rail transit operation management and decision-making needs by advancing theoretical research and key technologies in operation organization optimization, expanding international research perspectives, and establishing a world-class research platform and team dedicated to rail transit operation theory.
The Institute has consistently maintained a leading position domestically in rail transit operation technologies, achieving substantial accomplishments in passenger transport organization and marketing theory, rail transit operation theory, and flow equilibrium theory for rail transit. Notably, it has produced a series of landmark contributions in: optimization theory and applications for transportation organization of networked dedicated passenger railway lines; market-oriented passenger transport organization and marketing theory for railways; optimization theory an...
