Enhancing the Speed: Stopping Braking Guidance for Trams Based on Fixed Lineside Signs

Due to uncertainty in estimating distance, tram drivers are inclined to reserve a redundant braking distance to stop safely, which reduces the speed of the tram. This study proposes a stopping braking guidance (SBG) method to minimize the braking redundancy, thereby to enhance the tram's speed. The method utilizes fixed lineside signs to indicate the initial braking speed and the corresponding braking position. Drivers are guided by the signs to brake as quickly as possible with the shortest possible braking distance. A simulation experiment is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the method for short, medium, and long sections. The experimental results indicate that the method can increase the average braking coefficient of the three sections by 44.3%, 61.1%, and 61.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the running speeds are enhanced by 14.3%, 15.3%, and 11.8%, respectively. The analysis of multiple linear regression suggests that the average braking coefficient contributes the most (75%) to the running speed of trams, compared to the average acceleration coefficient and maximum speed.