Train separation at cruising speed, how it can improve current railway operations

• Published in: Journal of rail transport planning & management Vol. 30; p. 100451
• Main Authors: Nold, Michael, Corman, Francesco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2024
• Subjects: Capacity; Decoupling at cruising speed; Dynamic coupling; Energy; Railway operations; Slipping; Travel time; Travel time; Decoupling at cruising speed; Energy; Capacity; Railway operations; Dynamic coupling; Slipping
• ISSN: 2210-9706; 2210-9714
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jrtpm.2024.100451

This paper systematically reviewed the slipping operation, which is a train separation at cruising speed. For this, we describe the historical and operational background of the operation scenario practiced for over 100 years. Based on the concept of slipping, we discuss the holistic potential to improve current railway operations, considering travel time saving, energy saving, the increase of capacity utilization, station topology, driver requirements, and vehicle usage. Finally, a simulation of a theoretical urban railway line with several scenarios quantifies the magnitudes of the improvements. Based on the slipping test cases, one parameter can improve enormously, e.g., up to −65 % energy saving, −33 % capacity usage, and travel time reductions. Otherwise, slipping can slightly improve several parameters simultaneously.
•Systematic review of the historically slipping operation (train separation at cruising speed).•Analyzing potential improvement of slipping by a simulation of a test case on an urban railway line.•Slipping allows simultaneous improvement in energy-saving, capacity usage and travel time.•Slipping allows enormous improvement by focusing on a single issue, e.g., up to −65 % energy saving or −33 % capacity usage.