Citation

Parkes MM, Dick CT, Diaz de Rivera A. Transp. Res. Rec. 2022; 2676(1): 131-141.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/03611981211036878

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In response to multiple derailments involving hazmat trains, in early February 2020 Transport Canada released ministerial order (MO) 20-02, imposing speed restrictions of 20 to 25 mph on trains transporting a sufficient quantity of hazardous material. Since much of the North American freight network is used by multiple train types, the extreme speed heterogeneity created by this mandate substantially reduced train performance. Although this order was replaced within 2 weeks by new speed restrictions that were in turn replaced in May, MO 20-02 introduced the most extreme levels of train speed heterogeneity. The research team investigated the corresponding capacity effects to better understand the effects of train speed heterogeneity at low speed and inform agencies on future speed restrictions in this range. Using Rail Traffic Controller and General Train Movement Simulator, we quantitatively investigated the capacity loss from these speed restrictions and found that MO 20-02 can double or triple average train delay and lead to mainline capacity loss in excess of 60% on a representative single-track mainline.

Language: en

Keywords

dispatching; freight; freight rail transportation; general; rail; railroad operating technologies; railroads