Dispatching logic, corridor simulation, and train following algorithms to quantify the benefits of virtual and moving block control systems on North American freight railroad mainlines
type: CreativeWork
description: This thesis presents research evaluating the effectiveness of virtual and moving block railway control systems on North American freight railroad mainline corridors. Virtual and moving block control systems are one potential strategy for improving mainline operations such that corridors currently operating at capacity can maintain performance under a projected 24% increase in freight traffic volume by 2045. Properly characterizing the potential benefits and technical challenges associated with developing and implementing virtual and moving block systems on freight railroads is critical for railroad industry practitioners to make optimal decisions regarding investments in these advanced control systems. To address this research need, a novel deadlock-free train dispatching algorithm was first developed to support a new corridor simulation and evaluation tool. To provide accurate train traversal time estimates to this dispatching algorithm, a custom train performance calculator was also developed. The newly developed dispatching algorithm was designed to run over longer corridors and require substantially less computation time than existing industry automated dispatching tools, while retaining a similar quality of dispatch solution. A detailed train corridor simulation tool was subsequently developed to utilize this dispatching algorithm and train performance calculator. Compared to existing commercial tools, the developed corridor simulation tool has the novel ability to simulate moving blocks and various densities of virtual blocks overextended mainline corridors. Leveraging this novel capability, the simulation tool compared the performance of fixed, virtual, and moving block systems on two US Class I railroad mainline corridors, each over 2,000 miles in length. Future traffic volumes were tested under each control system to explicitly quantify their mainline performance and capacity benefit. Virtual and moving block systems have the ability to increase mainline ca…
abstract: This thesis presents research evaluating the effectiveness of virtual and moving block railway control systems on North American freight railroad mainline corridors. Virtual and moving block control systems are one potential strategy for improving mainline operations such that corridors currently operating at capacity can maintain performance under a projected 24% increase in freight traffic volume by 2045. Properly characterizing the potential benefits and technical challenges associated with developing and implementing virtual and moving block systems on freight railroads is critical for railroad industry practitioners to make optimal decisions regarding investments in these advanced control systems. To address this research need, a novel deadlock-free train dispatching algorithm was first developed to support a new corridor simulation and evaluation tool. To provide accurate train traversal time estimates to this dispatching algorithm, a custom train performance calculator was also developed. The newly developed dispatching algorithm was designed to run over longer corridors and require substantially less computation time than existing industry automated dispatching tools, while retaining a similar quality of dispatch solution. A detailed train corridor simulation tool was subsequently developed to utilize this dispatching algorithm and train performance calculator. Compared to existing commercial tools, the developed corridor simulation tool has the novel ability to simulate moving blocks and various densities of virtual blocks overextended mainline corridors. Leveraging this novel capability, the simulation tool compared the performance of fixed, virtual, and moving block systems on two US Class I railroad mainline corridors, each over 2,000 miles in length. Future traffic volumes were tested under each control system to explicitly quantify their mainline performance and capacity benefit. Virtual and moving block systems have the ability to increase mainline ca…
author: Roscoe, Geordie Savage
language: en
keywords: Railways, Simulation, Train performance calculation, Dispatching, Railway signaling, Railway traffic control, Fixed block, Virtual block, Moving block, Train following
date published: 2021-09-17T02:34:49Z
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:52Z
provider: University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/110749