01518873

Component

This paper presents advanced methods for the computation of railway capacity under scheduled and disturbed traffic conditions, with application to a Dutch case. For the scheduled condition the standard UIC compression method is used, while the capacity consumption computation under disturbed conditions requires multiple simulation runs via a Monte Carlo simulation set up. For the analysis the authors use the optimization-based train dispatching system ROMA that combines the alternative graph formulation of train rescheduling with blocking time modeling of the signaling constraints. An extended version of ROMA is adopted, for which various signaling/automatic train protection (ATP) systems can be modeled with high precision so that the dynamic behavior of hindered trains is accurately simulated in the different configurations. Further, the authors apply ROMA for the computation of the compressed timetable with conflict-free train paths without rescheduling. As test bed, the authors consider the Utrecht-Den Bosch double-track line for various signaling /ATP systems scenarios. Two traffic control algorithms are evaluated for the disturbed scenarios: a first come first served rule and a state-of-the-art branch-and-bound algorithm. The computational results show a remarkable reduction in terms of the scheduled capacity consumption when adopting European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 with short blocks compared to the Dutch signaling system NS’54/ATB. In case of disturbed rail operations, the capacity consumption and punctuality declines for NS’54/ATB, since trains have to brake and run at lower speeds. ETCS offers considerably better results, since the braking distances decrease when delayed trains run at lower speeds, having a stabilizing effect on headway times, delay propagation and throughput.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AR030 Railroad Operating Technologies.

01503729

14-2620

English

15p

2014

Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Algorithms; Automatic train protection; Railroad signaling; Railroad traffic; Railroad traffic control; Schedules

European Train Control System

Railway line capacity

Netherlands

Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2014 Paper #14-2620

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 27 2014 2:54PM