High-Speed Rail Operations on an Existing Network: An Assessment Model for China

• Published in: Transportation planning and technology Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 239 - 254
• Main Authors: Wong, W.G., Han, B.M., Ferreira, L., Zhu, X.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2002; Taylor and Francis
• Subjects: Applied sciences; China; Economics; Exact sciences and technology; Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction; High speed; High speed trains; High-speed Railways; Networks; Optimization Techniques; Passengers; Railroad tracks; Rails; Railway Planning; Railway transportation and traffic; Train Operations; Trains; Transportation planning, management and economics; Asia; China; Train operations; Railway planning; Railway network; Optimization; Passenger transportation; Exploitation; High-speed railways; China; High speed train; Optimization techniques; Numerical simulation; Rail transportation; Planning
• ISSN: 0308-1060; 1029-0354
• DOI: 10.1080/0308106022000019008

High-speed rail operations have the potential to reduce the long-term decline in rail passenger travel demand for the medium to long distance inter-urban markets. Such decline has been evident through most of the industrialized countries where air and road transport tend to be the dominant modes. In China, the operations of long distance high-speed rail on fully dedicated track is not very easy to implement, due to the high proportion of passengers who travel between high-speed and conventional railways. An alternative approach would be to allow for mixed operations with trains of various speeds on the same track. This article puts forward a simulation model designed to allow an evaluation of the most efficient distance for high-speed rail operations under mixed train speed scenarios. The model takes into account the main operating parameters such as passenger volumes, train speeds, capital and maintenance costs, train operating costs and energy consumption. The distance of high-speed train running on conventional rail that will yield the most economic benefit can be estimated using the model. The article includes the results of using the model for a specific example. It is concluded that large-scale high-speed trains have the potential to be successfully operated on conventional rail networks.