Deliverable D32.2 “Capacity impacts of innovations” summarizes the results of the Capacity 4 Rail work package WP3.2 “Simulation and models to evaluate enhanced capacity (infrastructure and operation)”. Capacity in the railway system can be divided in strategic level (planning of infrastructure), tactical level (timetabling) and operational level (dispatching). Closely related to the operational planning are Driver Advisory Systems (DAS), which in the future may be extended towards fully automatized driving.
At strategic level an analysis have been made about line capacity and train capacity for future rail freight corridors. The analysis shows how to increase capacity for future freight trains 2030/2050, by extending the train capacity well as the line capacity and the combination of train and line capacity for futures scenarios.
In the future, the processes for tactical and operational planning are merging, meaning that the timetable is no longer a static, or annually updated, product, but a working document that is improved successively, until handed over to operational management. Also in the operational management, we believe that control by planning is a good strategy. Processes for capacity and timetable planning, as well as timetable and traffic simulation systems are under development. The amount of available data is increasing.
The main research results of Capaciyt 4Rail SP 3.2 have been:
1. A model framework for modelling and planning of demand and supply of capacity at various levels with micro simulation, data analysis and optimisation. By combining these methods especially tactical and operational planning and control can be improved, and hence, enabling more trains and/or increased on-time performance.
2. A statistical model (LiU model) to forecast delay propagation. The model relies on the theory of Bayesian networks, and can be used both for planning and informing.
3. A demonstrator, CAIN, an extension to the KADR system for timetable and operational traffic developed by Oltis group Czech. The CAIN tool is connected to the LiU model and relies on data from Railsys (micro level infrastructure, complete tracklayout modelled) and Trafikverket database of disturbances and delays Lupp. The demonstrator has been set-up for Malmö – Hallsberg, a part of the Scandinavian Mediterranean corridor TEN-T network. It has given us new knowledge about interaction between IM timetable system and optimisation/data analysis model to predict timetable robustness and punctuality in the network due to changes in the timetable.
4. A separate analysis of space–time points in the timetable critical for robustness. The study of critical points in this project has given knowledge about how to use the method when data is known at micro level, represented by RailSys. The improved robustness is also set in relation to other key performance indicators.
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