Abstract:

The design of the vertical alignment of metro tracks (VAMTs) is complex and time-consuming. To address this issue, an optimization system is developed for VAMTs. This system automatically and efficiently designs optimized VAMTs for a given horizontal alignment of metro tracks. The proposed system allows editing the track alignment and cars data, and proposes a train operation-based simulation model on train operation and an optimization model on the VAMT for minimizing the life-cycle cost and energy consumption of metro cars. The system allows manual adjustment of the vertical alignment of metro track plan obtained by the automatic solution, and automatically checks whether the adjusted plan meets the relevant specifications. A study case involving Guangzhou Metro Line 2 shows that the optimized VAMT reduces energy consumption by 3.2% relative to the actual VAMT for the same construction cost, indicating that the optimized VAMT can save life-cycle costs.

Key words: urban rail transit, vertical alignment of metro track, train control, automated design system, genetic algorithm