Calculation of operating modes of the traction power network system and the capacity of the 27.5 kV railway line section systems for batch train schedules

Abstract

Taking into account the relatively low profitability of railway transport, need of high capital intensity and the same infrastructure payback period, obviously the implementation of such large-scale projects is a difficult task. Therefore, the railway industry relies heavily on new modern technological processes of train traffic organization on the basis of the existing infrastructure or its partial modernization. The freight trains connection technology via virtual coupling will allow you to dynamically change the number and composition of trains that are part of a combined group, eliminate the inherent problems of the connected trains. But most important is that it creates a capacity reserve due to compaction of the train schedule, if there are no restrictions in the traction power network. By the example of the train schedule organization of the Mariinsk – Achinsk railway line section, the authors of this article analyzed the operating modes and capacity of the 27.5 kV system for a batch train schedule. The results show that connected trains require a longer minimum inter-train interval to restore the traction network. With the same inter-train interval for two trains’ types, the main operating mode characteristics of trains with a virtual coupling are better than those for connected trains. Using freight trains in a virtual coupling allows you to reduce the inter-train interval about 1.5-2 times.