Models and methods to optimise train speed profiles with and without energy recovery systems: a suburban test case

This paper proposes models and methods to optimise train speed profiles in suburban areas in order to minimise total energy consumption. In order to achieve this target, an optimisation framework is developed for designing driving strategies, which requires a railway simulation model as a subroutine. In this paper we focus on the train optimisation model to define energy-efficient speed profiles and the relative energy consumption, assuming train motion parameters as control variables. We consider two cases: with and without energy recovery systems. Proposed models and methods are tested on a real suburban case. Initial results show that significant energy savings may be obtained. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.