The Influence of Dispatching on the Relationship between Capacity and Operation Quality of Railway Systems

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Ullrich Martin
• Subject Area: Traffic and Transport Systems, Intelligent and Automated Traffic
• Term: from 2014 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259039219

In capacity research of track guided systems waiting times are decisive variables. When capacity research is carried out with simulation methods in existing solutions, an integrated dispatching algorithm will be called to solve stochastic deviations within the disturbed timetables, and then waiting times can be calculated. So on a given infrastructure and with a fixed operating program, different dispatching algorithms will result in different relationship between capacity and operation quality, which is represented by the results of capacity research. In order to improve the accuracy of capacity research, the influences of dispatching on the relationship will be evaluated systematically, and then suitable dispatching algorithms can be recommended to realize the planed capacity with certain standards of operation quality. A more accurate planning is meaningful to improve infrastructure exploitation rate and avoid redundant infrastructure investment. Furthermore, a new dispatching algorithm will be developed to reduce waiting times systematically. The new algorithm can automatically identify on-site operation conditions, and correspondingly select suitable dispatching strategies and objectives. With the new dispatching algorithm, the capacity can be further increased fulfilling certain operation quality standard. In order to evaluate influences of dispatching algorithms, a multi-scale simulation model will be developed, in which railway operation processes are simulated on microscopic, mesoscopic and macroscopic levels concurrently. For large investigation areas, the significant relevant areas to waiting time calculation is presented on microscopic level, and the other areas are presented on more efficient mesoscopic and macroscopic levels. Depending on significant values of infrastructure elements, the simulation model can migrate continuously between three abstraction levels. In this model computation complexity and solution quality are well balanced. Assisted by this multi-scale simulation model, waiting times can be calculated, and then all results of capacity research can be derived. Consequently the influences of dispatching on the relationship between capacity and operation quality can be summarized and quantified. In this project a multi-scale simulation model characterized by continuous scaling is developed; real-time operation oriented dispatching and long-term planning oriented capacity research are well connected, and both dispatching algorithms and capacity research accuracy are improved.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants