Exploring Demand Trends and Operational Scenarios for Virtual Coupling Railway Signalling Technology

Abstract

Virtual Coupling (VC) is a newly introduced concept of train-centric signalling technology that conceives trains to run autonomously in radio-connected platoons. These trains move synchronously at a relative braking distance to significantly improve railway capacity and address the forecasted increase in railway demand. The technical feasibility of VC depends on its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which can introduce radical changes to current train services, technologies and procedures. This paper investigates demand trends and operational scenarios of future train-centric signalling systems. To this end, stated travel preferences have been collected by means of a survey to have more insight on modal shares in the case of future VC applications. In addition, a Delphi method has been applied where another extensive survey has collected expert opinions about benefits and challenges of VC. Results show that VC can be very attractive to customers of high-speed and main line railways and have special benefits to the regional market where a manifest willing to pay more for using a more frequent train service was found. This concept therefore calls for a deeper understanding of possible Virtual Coupling operational scenarios and the impact on the railway industry.

Simulation-Based Schedule Optimization for Virtual Coupling-Enabled Rail Transit Services with Multiagent Technique

“…Van Aken et al [25] discussed how to determine the best number of trains to group together in case of temporarily unavailable tracks. VC-enabled train services [29], i.e., virtually coupled train sets/formations or train convoys, are with variable train length of several multiple units (MUs); particularly, they are worth applying to address massive demand in dense areas and making the railway market more attractive with provision of on-demand train services. Te number of vehicles of each MU can be fxed or variable.…”

“…Te number of vehicles of each MU can be fxed or variable. Aoun et al [29] analysed three maneuvers for investigating the benefts of VC over conventional railway signalling systems according to nonstopping cases and stopping cases and considered 80 operational scenarios in total. Cao et al [30] explained and simulated the operation mode of VCTS.…”

“…In our study, we adopt these operational principles. Besides the layout of the track and/or junctions, the interactions among the trains running on the same track could determine the type of movement that the train will perform [29]. Considering the train movement over an interlocking area or a track, the operational scenarios for VC-enabled train services include the trains running on a plain line (stopping cases or nonstopping cases), merging or diverging at a junction (stopping cases or nonstopping cases), which relate to trains following mutually in the same direction.…”

Fault diagnosis of virtually‐coupled trains by adaptive observer with pattern‐matched detection and reinforced identification

“…4 Possible scenarios of virtual coupling (VC) running are analyzed for potential future applications using a Delphi method to estimate benefits and challenges of VC. 5 A mathematical programming model is designed for the management of carriages in virtually coupled trains, exploiting some possibilities that may derive for ideal VC state. 6 An event-triggered control approach is designed to alleviate effects of jamming attacks VC trains via proposing a stability range for VC formation and reducing the volume of communications cycle in train control systems.…”

A holistic solution to virtual coupling based urban rail train control system

“…Advanced control methods in the field mainly focus on the tactical and operational layers. The research team led by Aoune and Quaglietta 6,7,19 examined the market potential and operational scenarios of VC for different segments of the railway market from the perspective of the services layer. Schumann et al simulated various operational scenarios from the strategic layer, which showed promising benefits.…”