A simple in-cab schedule advisory system to save energy and improve on-time performance

Halcrow and Unipart Rail have developed and are trialling a simple in-cab system which continually advises train drivers of the train's time with respect to a pre-calculated time-distance profile. The profile is set up to save energy by making use of unused recovery time in the timetable. The recovery time is used up at the end of each inter-station journey by “coasting”, i.e. reducing power to idle and allowing the train to decelerate gradually. An off-train performance calculator is used to generate the profiles for each stopping pattern, route and rolling stock type. The profile fully respects the stops and important passing points in the operating timetable.