Although the implementation of a new Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system increases the safety level, it also exerts some impact on the blocking time in block sections, and consequently, on the headway between trains. At the same time, ATP systems introduce a train positioning system based on odometry calculation and reporting back to the trackside system. This paper describes the concept of using virtual blocks based on train position reporting in the ATP system for purposes of non-occupancy determination. Virtual blocks can be used to reduce headways on railway lines without increasing the number of trackside signalling devices. Preliminary capacity assessment was performed to calculate the average headway depending on the signalling system with reference to a case study.

Over the recent years, an increase in the demand for passenger and freight rail transport services has been observed. This is mainly owing to the policy objectives related to the use eco-friendly means of transport and the investment causing the quality of rail services to grow. Along with the growing demand for rail transport, a problem of railway capacity utilisation has emerged. Although the implementation of the new Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system increases the safety level, but under some scenarios, it may decrease the headways between trains. At the same time, the ATP systems enables train positioning based on odometry calculation and reporting it to the trackside system. This paper proposes a solution that involves application of virtual block sections which use the train position reporting feature of the ATP system for the determination of non-occupancy. Virtual blocks can successfully reduce headways in railway lines without increasing the number of trackside signalling devices. The capacity assessment proposed under the study was performed to calculate the average headway depending on the signalling system configuration.

Journal homepage: http://sjsutst.polsl.pl Article citation information:Irlik, M. Linear positioning of railway objects.

Currently the ERTMS/ETCS level 2 system is implemented on the polish railway lines. On all railway lines where this system is implemented (or will be implemented in near future) there is a mix traffic. It means that both equipped and unequipped with ETCS system trains shall be considered from command and control system point of view. This article presents issue related to the function of passage control in the system and its proper design for fulfill availability and safety requirements for mix traffic signaling.

Railway line capacity is growing in importance as a criterion for the assessment of railroad infrastructure performance. This problem is becoming more and more relevant as the demand for rail transport increases, especially considering the transport policy related to the promotion of climate-neutral means of transport. Insufficient capacity affects the stability and reliability of railway traffic operations. The analytical methods used for capacity estimation are typically insufficient to solve problems of a multicriteria nature (i.e. problems which take traffic heterogeneity and human factors into account). Optimisation methods, on the other hand, usually yield the best results if the current timetable for a given line is known. Additionally, they do not strongly consider the impact of the running characteristics of a specific train type and of the system or several systems in operation on the line (e.g. national Class B system and ERTMS/ETCS system). Therefore, this paper proposes a model and a simulation program developed in the Matlab and Simulink environment to be used to simulate on-route train movement, to study railroad capacity with different control systems, as well as for predictive train control to minimise energy losses. The authors described the assumptions adopted for the simulation program and the input parameters configurable against a specific line segment. They also discussed selected results derived from simulations of controlling the departure of trains to a railway line with the purpose of energy loss reduction.