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SIMULATION OF RAILWAY OPERATIONS

CLASSIFICATION OF THE SIMULATION

MODELS
Asst. Prof. Marjana Petrović, Ph.D.
 Why are we using simulation?!
• It was hard to simulate complex system, as
transportation network (railway network)
• Using software's different elements of the
transportation system can be changed in
different ways
• Much more efficient than physical models!!!

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 Presentation of railway system
• Characteristics of railway system:
– Infrastructure (tracks, switches, stations, signaling
devices,...)
– Rolling stock
– Train operations
• Difference between real world and model

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 Infrastructure modelling
• Exact infrastructure model is basis for
different tasks regarding transportation
planning
• Basis for: travel time calculation, headway,
signal system, tracks occupation, routing
problem, capacity calculation, reconstruction
and modernization planning, simulation of
railway operation in general [1]

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 Infrastructure modelling
• Input data – manually entered and available
dana bases
• Very important – quality of input dana,
changes in dana, intellectual property
• Knowledge from graph theory necessary for
infrastructure modelling [1]

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 Infrastructure modelling
• vertex
• edge
• G=(V, E)
• Directed graph
• Simple graph
• Connected graph
• It is possible to present infrastructure as well
as abstract elements, rules,…
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 Infrastructure modelling

4
B F

4
1 2
4
7
A D
7

3 2 G
3
2
5
C E

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Infrastructure modelling

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 Infrastructure modelling
• Vertex is object that can be described by
attributes such as type of the vertex, location,
name, ….
• Edge is object whose attributes can be speed,
gradient, radius, type of traction…
• link-orientated models and node-orientated
models

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 Modelling of railway vehicles
• Locomotives – engines, load, weight,
adhesion, friction coefficient, transmission
devices, tractive effort [3]
• Trains – combination of locomotive and
wagons with attributes such are length, train
category, locomotive type, number of wagons,
acceleration, deceleration, ….

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 Train operations modelling
• Paths
• Routes
• Itineraries
• Time table

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Basic steps in model developing

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 Advantages of simulation
• advantages:
– Money saving (building new infrastructure)
– Transportation (railway) system performance
analysis
– Evaluation of relationship (example: different
types of trains, modernization of the infrastructure)
– Avoidance of disturbance (time table correction)
– Simulation of forecasted conditions (any types of
modification that can be simulated) [1]

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 Classification of the simulation models

• Classification of the simulation models:

– Level od detail– macro, mezzo and micro
– analytical approach– deterministically and
stochastic
– Methods of simulation– synchronous and
asynchronous [1]

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 Microscopic models
• This types of models simulate characteristics
and interaction of the vehicles. Rules and
algorithms that describes vehicle driving,
interaction, lane change, acceleration,
deceleration are used…[2]
• Contains the most detail on vertexes and edges
[1]

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 Microscopic models
• Contains all of the tracks on certain railway
line, especially in the stations
• Suitable for travel time calculation, time table
construction and simulation, conflict points
detection…
• Edges usually contains attributes such as
length, gradient, speed, type of traction, radius,
signaling system, etc.

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 Mesoscopic models
• This type od model simulate certain vehicle
but describes activities and interactions on
macroscopic level [2]
• Synthesis between microscopic and
macroscopic infrastructure models[1]

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 Mesoscopic models
• Example: modelling operations in marshalling
yard where station infrastructure is presented
on micro level and railway lines that are
entering the station are presented on micro
level

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 Macroscopic models
• Simulates traffic flow taking into consideration
characteristics such as speed, flow, density.
Can be used for forecasting bottlenecks due to
demand, accidents and similar [2]
• Contains joint information about vertex and
edges [1]

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 Macroscopic models
• Macroscopic models are used for long-term
planning or routing problems
• Not suitable for travel time calculations or
conflict points detection
• Vertex can contain attributes such are
coordinates, name, type (railway station)
• Edge can contain information about length, type
of the line, number of tracks, travel time,
capacity…
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 Macro vs. micro
MIKROSKOPSKA RAZINA
kolodvor Otvorena pruga Odvajanje pruge

MAKROSKOPSKA RAZINA

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Macro vs. micro

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 Advantages and disadvantages
• Microscopic models are more precise but more
parameters requires calibration
• Parameters of macro models can be measured
on field while that is not always the case with
micro models
• Macro infrastructure model can be generated
from the micro model dana base – great
advantage

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 Deterministic models
• There is no variability in the model parameters
(vehicle length is determined, gap between
vehicles is determined…)[2]

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 Stochastic models
• Model parameters defined using statistical
distribution (example: desired speed generated
using normal distribution)
• Suitable when there is no need to conduct
detail or exact system analysis

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 Difference
• Output data in stochastic models can be
different for the same input dana while that is
not the case in deterministic models

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 Synchronous models
• All events happen according to same sequence
as in reality
• For synchronous models on micro level we
need this type of data :
– Infrastructure data
– Rolling stock data
– Time table
– Operation data

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 Synchronous models
• Can be used for modelling train interaction in a
network
• Each train contains this information:
– Speed, desired speed, position on network, desired
position
– Signaling system status
– Potential conflict situation
– Delays
– Priorities
– Exact train Routh, next railway station…

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 Synchronous models
• Event-driven simulation
• Simulating dispatching traffic management
– Change of tracks in order to avoid stopping on signal
– Overtaking of the slower train
– Waiting for crossing
– Choosing alternative Routh
• ˇ”More important” train should have less delay
than train that is „less important”

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 Asynchronous models
• Asynchronous simulation are more static
• First you need to simulate „more important”
trains – no interaction among all of the trains
• It is possible to have certain deviation from
reality
• Used for time table construction

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 Discrete and continuous models
• Discrete models – changes in the system
happen only on certain points
• Continuous models – state of the system
changes continuously in time
• Example: train driving; arrival/departure of the
train in the station
• Mix models are possible that contains both
types of variables

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 Literatura
1. I.A. Hansen, J. Pahl: Railway Timetable &
Traffic – Analysis – Modelling - Simulation,
EURAIL PRESS 2008.
2. Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume III:
Guidelines for Applying Traffic Microsimulation
Modeling Software, FHA, 2004.
3. Čerić, V.: Simulacijsko modeliranje, Školska
knjiga, Zagreb

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 THANK YOU
QUESTIONS?
marjana.petrovic@fpz.hr

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