This work deals with the real problem of evaluating the processing capacity of flat rail classification yards. In these yards, the railway cars are received on trains and move respecting the car sequence of the outgoing train. Inefficient movements imply a lower processing capacity than the yard s potential given its layout. The objective of this research is to describe the problem and to incite a method capable of calculating the processing capacity of flat rail classification yards in the strategic horizon, indicating whether or not there is a need for an expansion project to ensure meeting the expected demand. The problem was modeled using mixed integer linear programming (MILP) based on production scheduling theory. The model was applied to test instances, reproducing real railway car movements, and proved to evaluate different layouts properly, but with a high execution time. The initialization of some binary variables of the model allowed an increase in the size of the instances, however it is still unfeasible for practical application.