State movement for controlling trains operating under the virtual coupling system

Abstract

Train Virtual Coupling System (VCS) has been proposed as a new signalling system for controlling trains by building a group of trains as convoys in order to increase line’s capacity. This is achieved because the consecutive trains under the VCS is separated only by a relative braking distance; this is much shorter than the separation distance required in the Fixed Block Signaling (FBS) and Moving Block Signaling systems (MBS). In order to achieve the high capacity obtained from the VCS, the trains in a virtually coupled convoy should keep at a distance as close to the relative braking distance as possible and run at the same speed for maintaining the safe distance between them. In this paper, we propose a distance and velocity difference approach and introduce the multiple state movements for stimulating train’s movement under the VCS. The simulated results show that the capacity can be significantly increased and maximized in which the actual separation distance between trains when they are in convoy state is slightly longer than the minimum safe distance. It could be ensured that the train has proceeded safely in that the actual separation distance is surely longer than the minimum safe distance throughout the operation time period. In addition, we show that the trains can also proceed smoothly, in that a following train catches up with its leading train and joined in the convoy with a stable movement.