Investigation on the Performance of Train Timetable for the Case of Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit (AA-LRT)

Abstract

One of the most decisive elements to have a good performance in a railway operation is the train timetable. With a good train timetable: the train can go faster, more frequently, more safely with efficient service to the passengers and with optimal use of the available resources. So that, investigating and studying of the current train timetable specifically for the newly operated AA-LRT timetable has a fundamental importance to design a new train timetable with better quality.The main parameters which have a big influence on the design of train timetable are the headway time, dwell time, trip time, speed, braking distance, synchronization of trains etc. So that, these parameters are discussed in detail and their values are calculated.  To check the validation of these calculated values, simulating software called Arena is used. In the Arena software parameters like headway, dwell time, speed, synchronization time, the number of trains and safety block are used as inputs. When these parameters are simulated, it runs correctly and gives valid result including visualizing animation to show the real traffic movement. So that, from the output of the simulation a decision is made for each parameter to compare with the existing timetable and to give an attention to their effect on the design of the timetable. Finally, based on the calculated values and simulating results a better result for the main parameters of the timetable is found such as for the current speed a headway time of 7.5 minutes should be used and for the current available number of trains a speed of 30km/h with headway of 5.55 minutes are the optimal values.

Keywords: Animation, Arena Software, Dwell Time, Headway, Performance, Train Timetable.