Informatics and Applications

2025, Volume 19, Issue 3, pp 27-35

OPTIMIZATION OF A TRAIN SPEED PROFILE BASED ON THE EXPECTED ACCIDENT DAMAGE CRITERION

  • A. V. Borisov
  • A. N. Ignatov
  • V. A. Borisov

Abstract

The paper focuses on designing a freight train speed profile that minimizes the expected damage from various types of railway accidents. Total losses include both damage to a considered train and potential harm to trains on adjacent tracks. The probability functions for all accident types are parameterized by the route's topology and profile, i. e., its local slope and curvature. These probability functions, along with those describing the average financial loss per derailed car, treat train speed as a control variable. The speed profile is a solution to the constrained mathematical programming problem. It is represented as a piecewise constant function, remaining constant over each segment of the route with uniform slope or curvature. This profile satisfies both instantaneous geometric and integral time constraints. Since a piecewise constant speed profile looks physically unrealistic, the paper also proposes a method for transforming it into a profile with uniformly accelerated transitions. A numerical example is provided to illustrate how different loss functions and time constraints affect the choice of an optimal speed profile.

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