Planning Sweden’s rail traffic
Researchers at KTH have produced a model for predicting the consequences in terms of capacity and punctuality when expanding rail infrastructure in Sweden. Put simply, it means improving the planning of Swedish rail traffic.
Rail traffic has increased rapidly in recent years due to investments in new tracks, new trains and deregulation. Infrastructure is often the limiting factor in the development of rail traffic. Both tracks and trains are full on the most frequently used routes and it is necessary to expand capacity.
Building new infrastructure is time-consuming and extremely expensive. It is also difficult to predict future volumes of traffic. Demand increases, and new types of trains and new operators come onto the market. To manage these changes it is important that the capacity of infrastructure for handling different types of traffic is analyzed before changes are made.
For this reason, the KTH Railroad Group in cooperation with the Swedish Traffic Administration has drawn up a research programme called “Infrastructure and quality in rail traffic”. The aim is to develop models and methods for analyzing a robust infrastructure for flexible rail traffic and traffic planning, which will allow high capacity as well as high quality.
Results show that if express trains have their own track, between two and three times as many freight trains can run on main lines during the daytime.
On single-track rail routes, other trains passing are decisive for total capacity and punctuality. A model has been developed which analyzes how infrastructure, timetables and delays influence rail traffic in conjunction with passing trains. The model can be used to determine whether more passing stations should be constructed, or short stretches of double track.
Another model analyzes the capacity of double track railroads. In this case it is the mix of fast and slow trains which limits capacity. The model has been used by KTH to analyze the effects of separate high-speed tracks. Results show that if express trains have their own track, between two and three times as many freight trains can run on main lines during the daytime. Tracks can also be made straighter so that trains can be driven at over 300 kph and achieve better punctuality.
The thesis on railroad capacity will be presented at KTH today, Friday, at 10 am. For more information, contact Olov Lindfeldt at 070 - 219 71 16 / olov.lindfeldt@abe.kth.se or his supervisor professor Bo-Lennart Nelldal at 070 - 762 30 56 / bo-lennart.nelldal@abe.kth.se.
Peter Larsson