Author(s)

KAZUMASA KUMAZAWA, TAKAYASU KITANO, TAKASHI SAKAGUCHI, SHUNICHI TANAKA, SATOSHI KATO

Abstract

In order to construct new lines or to change track layouts in stations, it is necessary to determine the position of each signal, called an examination of the signal arrangement, in consideration of train operation and so on. To obtain the signal arrangement that satisfies the desired train operation, it is essential to consider headways. Furthermore, in the automatic block section, the signal aspect transition between adjacent signals must be determined, taking account of the position of each signal and so on. Therefore, to determine a signal arrangement requires a lot of time and a person who has the knowledge of both signalling system and train operation. To solve these problems, we developed a signal arrangement evaluation system. The system has two main functions. One function is the creation of the signal aspect transitions. In this function, this system calculates a braking distance corresponding to a signal aspect transition and checks whether the braking distance is lower than a distance between two signals or not. The other function is the creation of a headway diagram. In this function, the system calculates headways and checks whether the headways of all signals satisfy the desired train operation or not. In this paper, we explain these calculation logics and the structure of the developed system. In addition, we introduce a result of evaluating a signal arrangement in a model line by using the developed system.

Keywords

signalling system, train performance curve, train headway, automatic block system, signal aspect, examination of new railway lines, track layouts improvement