In this paper, we propose a model framework for providing optimal driving strategies and related speed profiles which minimise the energy consumption of rail convoys. Previous models were extended and applied to evaluate the effects of different signalling systems upon rail operating costs. The proposed method was tested on a real rail network, the Cumana suburban railway (Italy)
In railway systems, the evaluation of specific operating conditions and their impact on travel demand plays a key role both in planning and managing rail services. In this paper, we focus on the implementation of some energy saving strategies (ESSs) through the definition of energy-efficient speed profiles and estimate their effects on travel demand. In particular, speed profiles for ESSs need extra time for their implementation and hence entail a reduction in line performance. The definition of optimal speed profiles requires the use of optimisation procedures which can be formulated by considering motion parameters as control variables and energy consumption as the performance to be optimised (minimised), with respect to the available time. The proposed methodology is applied in the case of a real metro line, showing differences in user generalised costs, in order to provide additional information for rail operators which may allow evaluation of the best strategies to be adopted.
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