Influences of station length and inter-station distance on delays and delay propagation on single-track lines with regional rail traffic

摘要

Train services on single-track lines suffer from time losses due to crossings, imposed by the bidirectional traffic. The time losses are caused by constraints in the infrastructure and delay propagation, which give a stochastic contribution that varies from one crossing situation to the other.rnTwo examples of infrastructure improvements that decrease the time loss are examined: increased track length at timetabled crossing stations and decreased inter-station distances. A mathematical model is used to evaluate these improvements.rnLonger station tracks seem to be very efficient when traffic intensity and delay variances are moderate. Shortened inter-station distances give less effect but are less sensitive to delay variance and give valuable additional line capacity.rnThe model used assumes independence between crossing trains, which imposes a moderate capacity utilisation. In more congested situations simulation methods are needed to make more complex crossing patterns possible.