Periodic train timetable expansion: An integrated model of multi-period train service selection and rolling stock circulation with time-varying passenger demand

The periodic train timetable is one of the most widely used train timetables in passenger railway systems worldwide. However, how to expand well-coordinated daily train services from a single-period timetable pattern is rarely studied. This paper develops a multi-objective mixed integer programming model to solve the periodic train timetable...

Conflict-free train path planning using ATO timing points

Automatic Train Operation (ATO) is a technology to support or automate train driving for increasing service punctuality, energy efficiency and rail infrastructure capacity. Conflict-free train path planning is crucial to the effective deployment of ATO, which allows ATO-equipped trains to operate according to schedule with different train...

Analysis of Safe and Effective Next-Generation Rail Signalling Systems using a FTA-SAN Approach

Moving Block (MB) and Virtual Coupling (VC) rail signalling will change current train operation paradigm by migrating vital equipment from trackside to onboard to reduce train separation and maintenance costs. Their actual deployment is however constrained by the industry’s need to identify configurations of MB and VC signalling equipment which...

Extracting Railway Passenger Demand Patterns from Origin-Destination Data for Developing Demand-Oriented Service Plans

Train passenger demand fluctuates throughout the day and week and these fluctuations are expected to increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to let train services, such as the line plan and timetable, match this fluctuating demand, insights are needed into how the demand is changing and for which periods the demand is relatively stable....

An Approximate Conflict Detection and Resolution Model for Moving-Block Signalling by Enhancing RECIFE-MILP

Conflict detection and resolution models are being developed to support railway traffic management in taking optimised rescheduling decisions in case of disturbances. Existing models mostly concern fixed-block signalling systems, in which minimum train separation distances are determined based on a preset number of blocks representing worst-case...

Analysis of Safe and Effective Next-Generation Rail Signalling Systems using a FTA-SAN Approach

Moving Block (MB) and Virtual Coupling (VC) rail signalling will change current train operation paradigm by migrating vital equipment from trackside to onboard to reduce train separation and maintenance costs. Their actual deployment is however constrained by the industry’s need to identify confi gurations of MB and VC signalling equipment which...

Coasting advice based on the analytical solutions of the train motion model

A large variety of supervision, data analysis and communication algorithms monitor trains, exploiting most of their available computational power. On-board eco-driving algorithms such as Driver Advisory Systems are no exception, as the computational power available can limit their complexity and features. This was the case of Roltijd, the in...

Goal-oriented Self-Organization in Railways

This paper reviews the concept of self-organisation as defi ned in diff erent fi elds and attempts to provide a defi nition of goal-oriented self-organization that can be applied in the context of railway traffi c. Based on the provided defi nition a modelling approach for self-organising rail traffi c is then proposed to set the basis for...

Vehicle-to-Grid Concept for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid-Electric Regional Trains

Hydrogen fuel cell multiple unit vehicles are acquiring a central role in the transition process towards carbon neutral trains operation in non-electrified regional railway networks. In addition to their primary role as a transport mean, these vehicles offer significant potential for applications in innovative concepts such as smart grids....

Optimal network electrification plan for operation of battery-electric multiple unit regional trains

The Netherlands have one of the highest rail electrification rates in the EU with over 75% of the railway network electrified (European Comission, 2018), offering environment-friendly trains operation. However, in order to achieve carbon neutral railway sector by 2050, significant investments are required to further improve environmental...