Optimisation of train energy-efficient operation for mass rapid transit systems

This study presents a method for optimising train driving strategies of the mass rapid transit systems with the aim to save energy between successive stations. Combinational optimisation techniques are developed to solve the online optimisation problem. To achieve an optimal train driving strategy, train operation modes, including acceleration, cruise and coast modes, in tandem with the speed codes of each section, are determined by the MAX-MIN ant system algorithm. The results of the case study show superior performance in terms of energy consumption in comparison with the previous research. Given that computation time reaches a reasonable level, it becomes legitimate to address online optimisation by using the proposed approach.