Base Train Equivalents for Multiple Train Types Based on Delay-Based Capacity Analysis
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 146, Issue 5
Abstract
Different types of trains may have substantially dissimilar characteristics, which result in various capacity effects. The concept of base train equivalent (BTE) has been previously proposed to standardize different train types into a universal unit, i.e., a base train unit (BTU). However, the previously developed delay-based model suffers from consistency issues before and after BTU conversion, and its application is limited to only two train types. Thus, this study proposes a new concept of delay-based BTE computation and corresponding BTE models. The dynamic BTE model considers volume and heterogeneity to fully reflect the actual capacity effect of nonbase trains. The fixed BTE model identifies the most appropriate BTE value at a particular traffic heterogeneity. Results of the case studies demonstrate that the proposed method can address scenarios with all types of traffic mixes and multiple train types. The unit of delay-based rail capacity can be converted into a standard unit using the proposed models. The effect of an extra train can be effectively assessed, and the capacity evaluation from different lines or systems can be analyzed and compared.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and codes generated or used during the study are included in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Eric Wilson for his assistance in this research. This project was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan under MOST106-2410-H218-012-MY2.
References
Abril, M., F. Barber, L. Ingolotti, M. A. Salido, P. Tormos, and A. Lova. 2008. “An assessment of railway capacity.” Transp. Res. Part E: Logist. Transp. Rev. 44 (5): 774–806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2007.04.001.
Amir, D. 1986. Characterizations of inner product spaces. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhauser Verlag.
Benekohal, R. F., and W. Zhao. 1999. “Delay-based passenger car equivalents for trucks at signalized intersections.” Transp. Res. Part A: Policy Pract. 34 (6): 437–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0965-8564(99)00026-9.
Bronzini, M. S., and D. B. Clarke. 1985. “Estimating rail line capacity and delay by computer simulation.” Tribune des Transp. 2 (1): 5–11.
Corman, F., and E. Quaglietta. 2015. “Closing the loop in real-time railway control: Framework design and impacts on operations.” Transp. Res. Part C: Emerging Technol. 54 (May): 15–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2015.01.014.
Cunagin, W. D., and C. J. Messer. 1983. “Passenger car equivalents for rural highways.” Transp. Res. Rec. 905 (1): 61–68.
Dingler, M. H., Y. C. Lai, and C. P. L. Barkan. 2013. “Effect of train-type heterogeneity on single-track heavy haul railway line capacity.” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. Part F: J. Rail Rapid Transit 228 (8): 845–856. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954409713496762.
Gorman, M. H. 2009. “Statistical estimation of railroad congestion delay.” Transp. Res. Part E: Logist. Transp. Rev. 45 (3): 446–456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2008.08.004.
Harrod, S. 2009. “Capacity factors of a mixed speed railway network.” Transp. Res. Part E: Logist. Transp. Rev. 45 (5): 830–841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2009.03.004.
Kittelson and Associates. 2014. Transit capacity and quality of service manual (TCQSM). 3rd ed. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board, National Research Council.
Kozan, E., and R. L. Burdett. 2006. “Techniques for absolute capacity determination in railways.” Transp. Res. Part B: Methodol. 40 (8): 616–632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trb.2005.09.004.
Krueger, H. 1999. “Parametric modeling in rail capacity planning.” In Vol. 2 of Proc., Simulation Conf., Proc., Winter Simulation Conf., 1194–1200. Phoenix. New York: IEEE.
Lai, Y. C., and C. P. L. Barkan. 2009. “Enhanced parametric railway capacity evaluation tool.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2117 (1): 33–40. https://doi.org/10.3141/2117-05.
Lai, Y. C., Y. H. Liu, and T. Y. Lin. 2012. “Development of base train equivalents to standardize trains for capacity analysis.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2289 (1): 119–125. https://doi.org/10.3141/2289-16.
Lai, Y. C., Y. H. Liu, and Y. J. Lin. 2015. “Standardization of capacity unit for headway-based rail capacity analysis.” Transp. Res. Part C: Emerging Technol. 57 (Aug): 68–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2015.05.013.
Li, Y., R. Xu, C. Ji, H. Wang, and D. Wu. 2019. “Tactical capacity assessment of a high-speed railway corridor with high heterogeneity.” In Proc., 8th Int. Conf. on Railway Operations Modelling and Analysis. Delft, Netherlands: International Association of Railway Operations Research.
Murali, P., M. Dessouky, F. Ordóñez, and K. Palmer. 2010. “A delay estimation technique for single and double-track railroads.” Transp. Res. Part E: Logist. Transp. Rev. 46 (4): 483–495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2009.04.016.
Pachl, J. 2002. Railway operation and control. Mountlake Terrace, WA: VTD Rail Publishing.
Pouryousef, H., P. Lautala, and T. White. 2015. “Railroad capacity tools and methodologies in the U.S. and Europe.” J. Mod. Transp. 23 (1): 30–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40534-015-0069-z.
Prokopy, J. C., and R. B. Rubin. 1975. Parametric analysis of railway line capacity. Washington, DC: Federal Railroad Administration.
Rodriguez-Seda, J., and R. F. Benekohal. 2006. “Methodology for delay-based passenger car equivalencies for urban transit buses.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1988 (1): 127–137. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198106198800116.
Sogin, S., Y. C. Lai, C. T. Dick, and C. P. L. Barkan. 2013. “Comparison of capacity of single- and double-track rail lines.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2374 (1): 111–118. https://doi.org/10.3141/2374-13.
Vromans, M. J. C. M., R. Dekker, and L. G. Kroon. 2006. “Reliability and heterogeneity of railway services.” Eur. J. Oper. Res. 172 (2): 647–665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2004.10.010.
Yaghini, M., N. Nikoo, and H. R. Ahadi. 2014. “An integer programming model for analysing impacts of different train types on railway line capacity.” Transport 29 (1): 28–35. https://doi.org/10.3846/16484142.2014.894938.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 146 • Issue 5 • May 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 9, 2019
Accepted: Oct 2, 2019
Published online: Feb 17, 2020
Published in print: May 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Jul 17, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.