Author(s)

T Albrecht & S Oettich

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach to fulfil conflicting goals of dynamic schedule synchronization and energy saving in rapid rail transit systems. For public transport operators passenger transfers between Mass Rapid Transit Systems (MRT) and road-bound means of transport are unavoidable to ensure an efficient operation. But for passengers having to transfer between different modes of transport it can be a major annoyance when connections are missed. Therefore the present contribution aims to propose an algorithm for the dynamic modification of train running times in such a way that the probability of getting connections to other means of public transport can be increased and the overall energy consumption of train operation remains low. The optimal train timetable can be computed in real-time using the method of Dynamic Programming by Bellman. Energy consumption and waiting time due to missing a connection form the bicriterion optimization function. Simulations with MATLAB/ SIMULINKB have shown the feasibility of the algorithm within an assumed Automatic Train Operation environment. A driver- assistance system will be developed in order to ensure the feasibility of the pro- posed method for manually driven trains. This system is currently being tested in a train simulator at Dresden University of Technology. It will be installed on demonstrator trains of the Dresden suburban railway by 2004.

Keywords