Rail Operation Design

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 This section discusses the elementary idea of how

TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING the concepts of capacity, volume, headway and
safety considerations are used in rail operation
Chapter 3
design.
RAIL TRANSPORTATION  Volume (V) is related to headway (h) as follows:
3600
V
h
 Similarly, capacity is related to headway as given
by the equation:
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where
3600
cv  cp = theoretical passenger line capacity (no.s)
hm
where p = vehicles per train
cv = theoretical capacity (veh/hr) N = maximum passengers per vehicle
hm = minimum headway (sec)
 If practical vehicular capacities are to be
considered, the ratio of practical to theoretical
 Theoretical passenger capacity is given by:
vehicular line capacities is introduced. This ratio is
3600 pN called ‘guideway utilisation factor’ and is denoted
c p  pNCv 
hm by the symbol a.
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 Actual vehicle capacity is thus given by: actual passenger capacity can be written as:
3600a 3600sapN
ca  c
hm hm
where where
ca = actual vehicle capacity (veh/hr) c = actual passenger capacity (no.s)
a = guideway utilisation factor s = load factor
hm = minimum headway (sec) a = guideway utilisation factor
p = vehicles per train
 A load factor is usually used to express the N = maximum passenger per vehicle
percentage of vehicle occupancy, therefore the hm = minimum headway (sec)
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 When the load factor, s = 1, it denotes that the able to stop safely with a safety factor, K.
vehicle is fully occupied. The maximum number of  The following vehicle in such cases is considered to
passengers who can theoretically be squeezed into stop with constant deceleration. Based on this
a vehicle is called the ‘crush load’. Thus, during rush principle, minimum headway can be determined
hours, s can exceed 1. using:
 In rail design, safe stopping distance is a major Kvo pL
concern. A safety factor, K is used for safe design hm  
2d vo
on the brick-wall-stop (BWS) concept. Say, for
where hm = minimum headway (sec), K = safety factor, vo = cruise
example, that when the lead vehicle on a track
speed (m/s), p = vehicles per train, L = vehicle length (m) and d =
stops instantaneously, the following vehicle must be deceleration rate (m/s2).
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 Therefore, the theoretical capacity equation can  At maximum capacity, cruise speed is given by:
now be written as:
2 pLd
3600 pN vo 
cp  K
 Kvo pL  Also, minimum headway is given by:
   

 2d vo 
2 pLK
where p = vehicles per train, N = maximum passengers per vehicle, K =
hm 
d
safety factor, vo = cruise speed (m/s), L = vehicle length (m) and d =
deceleration rate (m/s2). where p = vehicles per train, K = safety factor, vo = cruise speed (m/s),
L = vehicle length (m) and d = deceleration rate (m/s2).

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 The maximum theoretical capacity can therefore be Exercise 3.7

obtained using the following equation: A transit authority needs to design a rapid rail line to
pd meet peak-hour demand of 10,000 passengers per
c p(max)  2546 N
LK hour, with a required speed of 38 to 43 km/h. The
 Thus, to increase line capacity, we need to: following assumptions are made:
Deceleration = 0.6 m/s2
 Increase the number of passengers per vehicle
 Increase length of train Safety factor = 1.35
 Decrease minimum allowable headway Minimum headway = 120 sec
 Improve the load factor Maximum headway = 240 sec
 Improve the guideway utilisation
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Load factor = 0.90 Solution to Exercise 3.7

Guideway utilisation factor = 0.60 Determine headway:
Station platform limit = 10 vehicles
Car length = 21 m 3600sap x N
cx 
Car capacity = 130 passengers hx
How many cars should a train consist of to provide 36000.9 0.6  p x 130
adequate passenger volume capacity? What will be 10,000 
hx
the corresponding headway?
hx  25.27 p x

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Solution to Exercise 3.7 Solution to Exercise 3.7

px (veh/train) hx (sec) hx  25.27 p x 2 pLd 2 pLK
1 25.3 vo   3.6 km / h  hm  sec 
2 50.5 K d
3 75.8
px Computed BWS vo (km/h)
4 101.1 (veh/train) hx (sec) hm (sec) Range that meets speed and
5 126.4 headway requirements
Possible range 5 126.4 21.7 35.3
6 151.6 6 151.6 23.8 38.1 Headway = 120 – 240 sec
7 176.9 Min. Headway = 120 sec 7 176.9 25.7 41.2 Speed = 38 – 43 km/h
8 202.2 Max. Headway = 240 sec 8 202.2 27.5 44.0
9 227.4 9 227.4 29.2 46.7
10 252.7
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Solution to Exercise 3.7

Therefore choose six or seven cars per train:

6-car train: Headway = 151.6 sec, Speed = 38.1 km/h

7-car train: Headway = 176.9 sec, Speed = 41.2km/h

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