HSR Vehicle Performance Characteristics

Maximum train speed is usually considered the paramount performance characteristic for a high‐speed rail system. However, there are other vital characteristics, and by applying an operations research approach, these important performance characteristics may be identified by examining system requirements. From these system requirements, vehicle performance objectives are determined, as well as meaningful performance evaluation criteria. Vehicle performance characteristics stem from a wide range of system requirements, and passenger satisfaction is a major requirement from the point of view of revenue generation. Other requirements, derived from passenger satisfaction, include schedule performance, which, in addition to reliably punctual departures and arrivals, call's for relatively low trip times between designated stations. Minimal journey time, rather than speed, appears to be a leading driver of trainset performance requirements. Other parameters include: trainset availability and reliability, ride comfort, performance of passenger amenities, energy conversion efficiency, equipment accessibility and maintainability, and track/train dynamics. In addition to vehicle performance parameters, the paper considers a broader set of system‐related factors that also bear on trainset performance requirements.