Route Capacity Model (RCM)

Details

• Creators:
  Welch, Norma ; Drummond, M
• Corporate Creators:
  Canadian National Railways
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Applications Railroad Capacity Railroads Routing Simulation
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Right Statement:
  Public Domain
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  Canadian National Railways
• Abstract:
  In the late 1970s, traffic volumes were predicted to double on Canadian National Railway's already congested single track main line. In support of a plant expansion program, a transportation planning research team developed two "what-if" simulation models: the Signal Wake and Route Capacity Models to evaluate the relative effect of the many factors influencing main line capacity. When used together, they predict train delay under various track and signal designs, operating methods, and traffic scenarios. The team then proposed a package of cost-effective improvements for capacity expansion, which included closely spaced inter mediate signals and strategically located sections of double track. In 1985, Canadian National Railways (CN) received the prestigious Franz Edelman Award for Management Science Achievement for their project titled "Expansion of Canadian National Railways' Line Capacity". (Interfaces, 16(1), 51–64. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25060783)
  
  The Route Capacity Model (RCM) is a software tool for analyzing the capacity of a CTC rail line. Specifically, it implements a simulation of train movements that can be used to determine train delays under different plant, traffic and maintenance conditions. The RCM is often used in conjunction with the Signal Wake Model (SWM) that determines the minimum train headway input for the Route Capacity Model. This report outlines the capabilities of the CN Route Capacity Model (RCM) and describes the design of the model from a user perspective.
  
  
• Content Notes:
  Please cite as: Welch, N., and Drummond, M., “Route Capacity Model,” Transport Research Dept., Canadian National Railways, Montreal, Canada, Oct., 1981.
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:410917e9f52c1629385578f7db7588853686c41082e446005b0afe57e6db752a9a48a1e6d36ee30df6f40c86a7d56f6a082abefb5d14eaf4c861043aa70a3967
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/89137/dot_89137_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.64 MB ]