Determining Critical Rail Line Blocks and Minimum Train Headways for Equal and Unequal Block Lengths and Various Train Speed Scenarios

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4186/ej.2017.21.3.281

Keywords:

Block length, headway, capacity, critical block.

Abstract

This paper presents a primary model to maximize rail line capacity by minimizing the train headway, defining block time as the time when a train first enters until it leaves the block. The analysis was conducted under a fixed-block system, which allows only a single train to remain in the block. A critical block was identified to determine the minimum safe headway as a function of the train speed, train length, number of trains, and block length. A time–distance diagram was used to analyze operations with equal and unequal block lengths. For two trains operating at the same speed on unequal blocks, the maximum block length defined the minimum headway. For two trains operating at different speeds, a hierarchical analysis was required to identify the minimum headway. Shorter block lengths and a strategic train order affected rail line capacity. The maximum capacity was achieved when two trains operated at the same speed.

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Author Biographies

Onanong Sangphong

School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand

Siradol Siridhara

Department of Electrical Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand

Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha

School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand

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Published In
Vol 21 No 3, Jun 15, 2017
How to Cite
[1]
O. Sangphong, S. Siridhara, and V. Ratanavaraha, “Determining Critical Rail Line Blocks and Minimum Train Headways for Equal and Unequal Block Lengths and Various Train Speed Scenarios”, Eng. J., vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 281-293, Jun. 2017.