A Vertical Railroad Alignment Design with Construction and Operating Costs

Abstract

Vertical alignment profiles are generally governed by geographical constraints; however, vertical alignment design is important, as it may significantly affect operating decisions such as travel time and tractive and braking energy consumption. This paper seeks to optimize vertical railroad alignment considering the costs of user, operation and construction. A genetic algorithm and a simulation model are jointly used to find solutions for vertical alignment characteristics and operating speed, and numerical cases are presented. The model developed can be applied to analyze both the operating efficiency of existing railroads and the feasibility of new railroads.