1 RAIL TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to management of a rail transport system, for example, systems suitable for trains and other rail guided vehicles. In one for, the invention relates to and has particularly useful application to commuter rail (suburban rail). It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to a suburban rail system; however it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that use, only. [0002] Throughout this specification, the term "train" includes in its ambit any kind of self-propelled, connected group of rolling stock, where rolling stock means locomotives, carriages, wagons, or any other vehicles used on a railway. [0003] Throughout this specification, the term "multiple unit" (MU) includes in its ambit any kind of passenger train capable of coupling with other trains of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one cab. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0004] It is to be appreciated that any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the present invention. Further, the discussion throughout this specification comes about due to the realisation of the inventor and/or the identification of certain related art problems by the inventor. Moreover, any discussion of material such as documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention in terms of the inventor's knowledge and experience and, accordingly, any such discussion should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms part of the prior art base or the common general 2 knowledge in the relevant art in Australia, or elsewhere, on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein. [0005] Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city centre (interurban area), and the middle to outer suburbs and commuter towns or other locations (suburban area). [0006] Commuter rail is focused on moving people between where they live and where they work on a daily basis although it is not restricted to this function. [0007] Commuter rail trains are usually composed of multiple units (MUs). The majority of multiple units may be fitted with fully automatic couplers that make all connections between the rail vehicles (mechanical, air brake and electrical) without human intervention. [0008] Multiple units are usually equipped with control cabs at both ends. Therefore each multiple unit can be used individually as an independent train. Since capacity of one MU is typically not enough to serve the route, at least two or more or, a few MUs are usually coupled together. [0009] Commuter trains services may be classified as either local services or express services. Local service trains stop at all stations or most stations on a route. Express service trains operate non-stop or making only a small number of stops. [0010] Usually trains operate as local service trains and stop at all stations or most stations on a route. This results in low average speed and long travelling time. It significantly slows longer trips, especially in major urban areas. This problem has been addressed by express services were trains omit certain stops in order to offer a faster trip between the places served. The drawback is that not all stations and stops are served.
3 [0011] Further explanations of known features of rail and public transport systems can be found on a number of web sites. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a more efficient rail transport management system enabling a rail system to service all stops and to provide fast service for long distance passengers. [0013] It is an object of the embodiments described herein to overcome or alleviate at least one of the above noted drawbacks of related art systems or to at least provide a useful alternative to related art systems. [0014] The invention involves the composing of trains. It utilizes more frequent use of the coupling equipment in order to provide better service. [0015] In a first aspect of embodiments described herein there is provided a method of providing transport in a rail system having at least one route traversing an area populated with stations to service passengers, the method comprising the steps of: dividing the route into a common area and at least one zonal area where the common area includes the part of the route with main destinations for most passengers and the zonal area includes remaining part of the route; zoning of zonal area where zones are adjacent to each other and only the first zone in each zonal area is adjacent to the common area. providing a rail service comprising at least two MUs wherein each MU is adapted for being coupled to other MUs of the rail service and decoupled there from; 4 using the rail service in coupled form corresponding to all MUs of the service being coupled together to service stops within the common area when travelling in a direction from the common area into at least one zonal area; decoupling at least one MU of the rail service in the last stop of the common area when travelling in a direction from the common area into at least one zonal area; operating the decoupled MU(s) as a local service on the first zone of the zonal area; operating the remaining MU(s) as an express service on the first zone of the zonal area; repeating the decoupling process for next zones of the zonal area if necessary; coupling at least one MU to other MUs of the service when travelling in a direction from the at least one zonal area into the common area in order to the service common area as an integral assembly of all MUs in the rail service. [0016] Other aspects and preferred forms are disclosed in the specification and/or defined in the appended claims, forming a part of the description of the invention. [0017] In essence, the present invention stems from the realization that the nature of suburban train is quite similar to the assembly/disassembly procedure employed in the manufacturing plant. The use of modules helps manufacturing to reduce assembling/disassembling time as modules can be assembled/ disassembled independently. [0018] Further scope of applicability of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while 5 indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS [0019] The invention now will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrams. In this respect, further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of preferred and other embodiments of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure herein, and in which: [0020] Figurel is a schematic diagram showing rail carriage transfer on a route in accordance with current rail system where the train comprising of few MUs operates as a local or express service and MUs stay coupled for all time they are in service; [0021] Figure2 is a schematic diagram showing rail carriage transfer on a route in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0022] Figure3 is a schematic diagram showing rail carriage transfer on a route in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; [0023] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing rail carriage transfer on a route in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.
6 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0024] Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the route with stops A, B, C etc. Common area includes the part of the route with main destinations for most passengers - stops A, B, C and D. All other stops are located in the zonal area, namely zone 1, zone 2, and zone 3 as shown throughout the diagrams. [0025] Figure 2 shows a rail transport management system where coupled MUs operate as a local or express service in common area. In the last stop of the common area (stop D) the assembly is decoupled. Upon decoupling, a first MU runs as an express service in zone 1 and then as local service in zone 2. A second MU operates as a local service in zone 1 and terminates in the first stop of zone 2 in order to provide overlap and enable trips between zone 1 and 2. [0026] On the return trip the MU 2 operates as a local service in zone 1 and then waits for MUl in the stop D. The MU 1 runs as local service in zone 2 and then as an express service in zone 1. In the stop D both MUs 1 and 2 are coupled. The coupled MUs operates as a local or express service in common area. [0027] Figure 3 shows a rail transport management system where the zonal area has been zoned into three zones, zone 1, zone 2, and zone 3. The coupled MUs 1, 2 and 3 operates as a local or express service in common area and then the last MU 3 is decoupled. It operates as local service in zone 1 and terminates in the first stop of zone 2 in order to provide overlap and enable trips between zone 1 and 2. Remaining MUs 1, 2 operates as express service in zone 1. Then MU land 2 are decoupled in the way described in Figure2 upon entry to zone 2. [0028] Figure 4 shows application of a rail transport management system where the common area is in the middle of the route and accordingly the zonal area surrounds the common area.
7 [0029] While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth. [0030] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive. [0031] Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface to secure wooden parts together, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw are equivalent structures.