Punctuality

The optimisation of traffic fluidity is primarily aimed at improving overall punctuality and thus service quality.

System capacity

If train delays are reduced, slot management is inproved and capacity of the infrastructure can be raised.

Investment costs

A train control system based on traffic optimisation at the control centres requires additional information and communication infrastructure both in trains and at control centres. Depending on the point of departure of an individual railway company this will cause medium to high costs.

Technological

Some of the IT required for an advanced traffic optimisation system is not yet available. For example an optimisation system which could handle all the position data from dozens or hundreds of trains and find the systemic optimum for their speeds is to be developed.

Standardisation of interfaces

A key success factor for the implementation of advanced telematic systems is a high degree of standardisation of interfaces. This offers two crucial advantages:

• The different infrastructure and IT components can be used for other purposes which reduces overall investment costs
• There can be joint development efforts on an international level which again reduces investment costs.

Standards are especially needed for

driving advice systems allowing for a later upgrade to integrate recommendations coming froma control centre level.

data formats and transmission protocols for the information exchange between trains and control centers or central servers. Once established such a radio link, there is a number of relevant information that could be exchanged, e.g.

• train configuration and delays to be displayed at stations (cf. Reduce standing times in stations)
• energy consumption data read out from energy meters
• fleet and load management especially in freight operation