Train Movement Simulation Model to Calculate Train Movement Parameters With Respect To Route Details and Fleet: Case Study Tehran-Mashhad Railway

Due toexpansions, alterations like geometric modification, fleet upgrade, variation of wagon numbers or any other possible changes, rail industry has to be flexible and be able to perform the needed predictions. This study is an attempt to provide a tool to evaluate the performance of the rail system, regarding the details of train movements, prior to its occurrence. The provided tool is a dynamic, event based simulation model, which is developed in C# and determines the parameters of passenger or freight trains in railroads. Regarding the technical characteristics and route geometry, this tool can evaluate the outputs including train travel time in blocks, fuel consumption, trains’ average and instant velocities and accelerations, and traction and resistance diagrams. The innovations of this research lie in the novel simulation distinctiveness which is utilized in this study compared to other models used in other applications. Based on expert opinion tests and also simulation-reality comparison results, no significant difference has been observed. Tehran-Mashhad railway parameters are calculated as a case study.