Train Operation Support System for Timetable Adherence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional technologies cannot provide a corresponding limited speed to trains running at speeds lower than the train performance curve, leading to potential delays and increased energy consumption due to re-acceleration, especially when a preceding train departs behind schedule, causing subsequent trains to lose headway and potentially arrive late at stations.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a storage unit for a scheduled train diagram, minimum headway, and a train performance curve, with an operation processing unit that determines a predicted departure and arrival time, corrects the train performance curve, and provides a limited speed to ensure smooth operation, allowing trains to maintain the headway even when running slower than the performance curve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a train runs at a speed lower than the train performance curve to maintain headway with a delayed preceding train, then the train can arrive at the station on time, but there is no constraint on the train speed other than being equal to or below the limited speed, making it impossible to obtain the corresponding speed from signal apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores multiple train performance curves corresponding to different limited speeds before operation. When a train needs to run slower than the standard performance curve, the system can immediately retrieve the appropriate pre-calculated curve without complex real-time calculations, enabling smooth speed adjustments while maintaining arrival reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of the train performance curve by correcting it based on the differential time between predicted arrival and departure times. This allows the system to provide accurate speed constraints even when trains run slower than the standard performance curve, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Reliability
If a subsequent train maintains headway with a delayed preceding train by running at lower speed, then the train can keep the calculated arrival time, but the train may be prohibited from entering the next block by signal devices and stopped between stations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the train performance curve based on actual operational conditions, including the delay of preceding trains. By correcting the performance curve in real-time, the system provides adaptive speed constraints that prevent unnecessary stops while maintaining safe headway, thus improving productivity without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the train diagram information, actual departure times, and predicted arrival times to continuously refine the train performance curve. This feedback mechanism ensures that speed constraints are accurately adjusted to maintain headway while preventing unnecessary block entries and stops, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
3Loss of time
If the train runs following the limited speed determined from the train performance curve, then the minimum running time can be determined, but if the running time increases beyond this minimum, there is no constraint on train speed other than being equal to the limited speed or below
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the speed constraint problem by providing different speed constraints for different sections of the route based on the corrected train performance curve. This allows the system to maintain minimum running time constraints where necessary while providing flexible speed adjustments in other sections, resolving the contradiction between time loss and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
By correcting the train performance curve parameters based on actual operational data and differential times, the system transforms the rigid speed constraints into flexible, adaptive constraints. This allows the system to maintain minimum running times while providing the versatility needed for various operational scenarios, including delayed preceding trains and varying traffic conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A subject of the present invention is to implement smooth running of a train so that the train arrives at a station according to a specified timetable even if the train runs at a speed lower than a train performance curve. To solve the subject, a storage unit that stores a schedule train diagram of trains, minimum headway between a preceding train and a subsequent train, and a train performance curve of each train; and an operation processing unit that performs, when a delay arises in an operation of the trains, a process of determining a predicted departure time at which the subsequent train departs from a predetermined station and a predicted arrival time at which the subsequent train arrives at a next station of the predetermined station based on the schedule train diagram and the minimum headway, a process of determining a differential time between the predicted arrival time and the predicted departure time and correcting the train performance curve such that a running time becomes the differential time when the subsequent train runs following the train performance curve or an average speed when the subsequent train runs following the train performance curve becomes an average speed when the subsequent train runs between stations in the differential time, and a process of providing information about the train performance curve that has been corrected are included.