A Rail Transit Simulation System for Multi-Modal Eco-Routing Applications

The paper develops a continuous rail transit simulator (RailSIM) intended for multi-modal energy-efficient routing applications. RailSIM integrates sophisticated train dynamics and energy models to replicate train motion and energy consumption behavior, respectively. The simulator is calibrated using an off-line optimization procedure to match pre-programmed railway schedules by optimizing three model parameters, namely; the segment target speed, the average deceleration level, and the brake force adjustment factor. The objective of the calibration procedure is to match the simulated and actual average running speed for each station-to-station pair. Upon calibration, RailSIM is applied to the Greater Los Angeles area and validated at both the instantaneous and aggregated levels. Results demonstrate that RailSIM is able to produce realistic train dynamics and energy consumption estimates producing a comfortable ride while simultaneously matching the railway schedule. RailSIM is also demonstrated to capture the sensitivity of energy outputs to the track gradient. Finally, the results indicate that a perfect match to empirical energy estimates is achieved at an average grade of 1.8%, which is a reasonable approximation of the average track gradient of the testing area.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AP065 Standing Committee on Rail Transit Systems.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Wang, Jinghui
  • Ghanem, Ahmed
  • Rakha, Hesham
  • Klenk, Matthew
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 98th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2019-1-13 to 2019-1-17
• Date: 2019

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 9p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calibration; Multimodal transportation; Rail transit; Routes and routing; Simulation
• Identifier Terms: RailSIM
• Geographic Terms: Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01697632
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 19-00256
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 1 2019 3:51PM