GB2160344A

GB2160344A - Train operation control system

Info

Publication number: GB2160344A
Application number: GB08514242A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takao Mutou
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 1984-06-06
Filing date: 1985-06-05
Publication date: 1985-12-18
Also published as: AU575402B2; MX158882A; GB8514242D0; JPS60259567A; HK92088A; AU4335485A; GB2160344B

Abstract

A train operation control installation includes means for monitoring the number of passengers on board each car of each train and a display device (40, 41) at each station for displaying the degree of congestion in each car of a plurality of approaching trains. Data relating to the number of passengers on each train and the number of passengers at each station are also processed to provide control data for the control of the trains. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Train operation control system This invention relates to a train operation control system for improving passenger transportation service.

Although efforts have been made to operate trains on schedule in accordance with the execution diagrams, irregularity, if any, in schedules is attributable to fluctuations in the number of passengers. Small-scale irregularities are produced by fluctuations in the length of passengers boarding and alighting time, whereas large-scale irregularity is, in terms of the relationship between the transportation capacity of a group of trains run in conformity with the execution diagrams and the number of passengers, generated when the former and the latter are close together or when the latter exceeds the former.

On the part of passengers, they are not in a position to know of the degree of congestion of a train as a whole which they are about to board and that of each passenger car until the train arrives at the station and are thus unable to select a relatively less congested train or passenger car. Accordingly, it will be practically impossible for each passenger to select and take a less congested passenger car while changing his entraining position even if comparatively less congested passenger cars of that train come to his attention. Moreover, the arrival of a train at a station temporarily behind schedule will cause an increase in the number of passengers to the extent of such a delay in arrival and thus in the time required for their boarding the train.The inconvenience in this case is that, once a train is delayed in arrival, it will be delayed further at the ensuing stations and the increasing car congestion caused thereby will result in decreased transportation service.

On the part of transportation service undertaking, on the other hand, a central control room with facilities for monitoring the state of travelling trains is installed so as to provide on-schedule operation of trains in conformity with an execution diagram and control of the travel speed of trains ta recover delay. However, since it is not possible to control directly the length of passengers boarding time at each station as the very source of such delay, any train is made to take its departure based on the passengers boarding time actually consumed, whereas recovery from delay is dependent on the contraction of travel time between stations.Moreover, because no information about the number of passengers carried and those on the platforms is available to the central control room, the relationship between the transportation capacity of trains and the number of passengers is unobtainable by real time operation and thus it is still disadvantageous that the appraisal of the existing situation must rely on occurrences indirectly such as the presence of some passengers left out of boarding and delay in departure or arrival.

In view of foregoing, it is therefore an object of the present invention to remedy the shortcomings set forth above and provide a train operation control system for realizing smooth transportation service.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a train operation control system for controlling the operation of trains using input data on the number of passengers on board a train and the number of passengers monitored on the platform of each station.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a train operation control system embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the detailed construction of the train operation control system of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a control flowchart illustrating the flow of information and the functions of system components.

Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating concrete examples of the display unit of Figure 1 for displaying the number of passengers.

Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the method of displaying notices, in concrete terms, by means of the station side passenger guide unit of Figure 1.

In Figures 1 through 5, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts.

In Figure 1, there is shown a total train operation control system configuration embodying the present invention, the system configuration comprising a train 1, a track circuit 2, a transmission line 3, data transceivers 4a, 4b, a relay interlocking device 5, a ground automatic train control (ATC) 6, a control 7 over operation control stations, a passenger guide unit 8, passengers 9, a passenger monitor 10, an operation and service control 11, a train operation display unit 1 2, a display unit 1 3 for displaying the number of passengers and a control panel 14.

The train 1 comprises components shown in Figure 2, including a data transceiver 20, a car side central control 21, a car side transmission line 22, terminal units 23, passenger monitors 24, a transceiver 25 for ATC, a car side ATC and a powering brake 27.

The operation of the system will now be described.

The number of passengers on board a train is monitored by the passenger monitor 29 installed on each of the passenger cars constituting the train. Monitoring is effected by detecting loads (the weight of passengers) by measuring the deflection of air or metal springs installed on the bogies of a train or by any other method using special direct monitors. An output from the passenger monitor 24 is inputted to the terminal unit 23 and converted to a signal as data before being transmitted to the car side central control 21 through the car side transmission line 22. The data on the passengers in the train is furnished with a train number by the data transceiver 20 and transmitted to the ground operation and service control 11 through the ground side transmission line 3.

On the ground side, the route is controlled by the control 7 over operation control stations based on the execution diagram set in the central operation and service control 11 and instructions as to the route are given to the relay interlocking device 5, so that the route can be mapped out to ensure safety of the travelling train by the ground ATC 8.

Moreover the ground ATC 6 is used to detect the position of a travelling train from the track circuit 2 and supply the train 1 with an ATC signal for controlling the travel speed of the train depending on the track conditions and the distance between the train and a preceding one. The ATC transceiver 25 on the train is used to detect the signal and apply a speedrestraining signal to the car side ATC 28. The car side ATC 28 then operates to compare the train speed with the speed-restraining signal and, if the train speed exceeds a speed limit, it will turn off the powering device and make the powering brake 27 apply the brake to maintain the train speed lower than the speed limit.

The number of passengers 9 on the platform is monitored by the passenger monitor 10. As an effective passenger monitor 10, use can be made of a system for counting the number of passengers with the interceptions of light by passengers passing between a projector and a light receiver provided at the entrance of the platform; measuring the concentration of passengers with a plurality of ultrasonic sensors by coordinately dividing the floor of the platform; or counting the number of passengers with a plurality of infrared cameras for recognising a distribution of heat radiated from the passengers on the platform in the form of a pattern.The number of passengers is displayed in the central control room via the control 7 over operation control stations ydata transceiver 4b--ttransmission line data transceiver 4aeoperation and service control 11display unit 13 for displaying the number of passengers. In the same manner, the number of passengers on board is, as above described, transmitted to the ground side from the train and displayed by the display unit 1 3.

The position of a travelling train is detected by the ground ATC 6 on a track circuit 2 basis and inputted to the relay interlocking device 5control 7 over operation control station before being displayed on the train operation display unit 1 2 together with data representing the route via the data transceiver 4b )transmission line data transceiver 4aeoperation and service control 11.

The data on the number of passengers is transmitted from the car side to the ground operation and service control 11 and also to the ground control 7 over operation control stations, whereas the degree of congestion of an arriving train and passenger cars is displayed on the station side passenger guide unit 8 visible to the passengers 9. The control 7 over operation control stations operates to verify data on the travelling train by the execution diagram and compute the arrival time thereof, which together with information about the passengers carried is displayed on the station side passenger guide unit 8 visible to the passengers 9 at the station. The passengers 9 are then able to select relatively less congested cars of the train based on the data on the number of passengers carried thereby and the arrival time thereof.A display of the data on the number of passengers carried inclusive of those on the number of passengers carried in both preceding and following trains allows passengers to select and take a train and passenger cars whose accommodation conditions are advantageous to them in consideration of arrival time and the number of passengers carried in both trains. The number of passengers carried is consequently levelled on a train or car basis, so that the time required for passengers to board a train can be levelled. As a result, the time required for passengers to board a train is made far shorter than what is required for concentrated passengers to take the crowded passenger cars of a crowded train and this makes it possible for them to board the train within the predetermined stoppage time at a station.

In the central control room, the display unit 1 3 for displaying the number of passengers is usable for grasping the number of passengers on a train or station platform basis and accordingly it provides a basis, on the part of the central control room, for readily judging whether or not passengers at a certain station are allowed to board a train as previously arranged according to the execution diagram.

When it is not possible to make the total number of expected passengers on the station platform board a train because the number of passengers on the platform is far greater than what the train can accommodate, the execution diagram is modified in such a manner as to step up the operation of trains and thus increase the railway service, whereas the situation is displayed on the station side passenger guide unit 8 to make passengers cope therewith through their cooperation.

Figure 3 illustrates the flow of information and the control method. In Figure 3, numerals 1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 designates like component units of Figure 1. The illustration of the component units 2, 7, 9 and 14 of Figure 1 have been omitted. In Figure 3, there is shown a data transmission unit 1 5 containing 3, 4a, 4b of Figure 1. The operation and service control 11 comprises a planned diagram memory 110, an execution diagram selector unit 111, a diagram reference unit 11 2, an operation control 11 3, a passenger control 114 and an operation rearrangement unit 11 5.

The planned diagram memory 110 is designed to store diagrams for the operation of trains. The operation rearrangement unit 11 5 is used to rearrange the operation of trains based on operational conditions and the flow of passengers and cause the execution diagram selector unit 111 to select what is required for the operation. The execution diagram thus selected is given to the diagram reference unit 11 2 wherein the diagram given is compared with data on the position of trains and any delay in the travel time of a train is computed. The execution diagram and the data on delay in the travel time of the train is sent to the operation control 11 3 and the passenger control 114.

The operation control 11 3 causes the train operation display unit 1 2 to display the operational conditions of a train and operates to transmit control data necessary for making trains travel through the data transmission unit 15, whereby route, departure and arrival, and speed control is effected with the relay interlocking device 5, the ground ATC 6 and the train 1 linked in series. The data of the train number, its position, the number of passengers (boarding percentage) and the like necessary for operation control are transmitted to the operation and service control 11 through the data transmission unit 1 5.

Moreover, the passenger control 114 operates to provide the station side passenger guide unit 8 with passenger guide data thereat using the data transmission unit 1 5 to display the passenger guide data including destinations of trains, arrival time (on the part of passengers, waiting time for boarding) and the number of passengers carried to allow the passengers to select intended trains and passenger cars. The number of passengers on the platform is monitored by the passenger monitor 10 and the data obtained thereby is transmitted to the operation and service control 11 through the data transmission unit 1 5.

The data on trains and passengers obtained from trains and stations are fed to the operation control 11 3 and displayed on the train operation display unit 1 2 in reference to the position of travelling trains and their routes.

The data given to the passenger control 114 is so processed that the boarding percentage of a train and the number of passengers on the platform are displayed on the passenger display unit 1 3 to make clear transportation capacity associated with the train and the passengers thereon.

The execution diagram based on the judgment made by the operation rearrangement unit 11 5 is selected and used for control purposes, the judgment on the operation rearrangement being derived from information as to delay in the travel time of trains according to displays of the operational conditions thereof, the number of passengers transported and diagram verification.

Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating concrete examples of the display unit 1 3 of Figure 1 for displaying the number of passengers. In Figure 4, numerals 30, 31 respectively indicate different stations and 32, 33 passenger data obtained from corresponding station. The portions filled with slant lines in train and station bar graphs represent the number of passengers being actually handled, whereas the full scale of each graph indicates a maximum passenger capacity. In the indicated train bar graphs, the blank portion without slant lines is indicative of a margin for accommodating the number of passengers who are able to board the train at the intended station.In case the number of passengers (portion with slant lines) at the station is less than what is represented by the margin, all of them will be able to board the train and, otherwise, some of them may be shut out from boarding.

Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the display by the station side passenger guide display unit 8 of Figure 1, notices 40, 91 providing information about advance and the following trains, respectively.

The contents of the notice include the destination of the train, arrival time, the boarding percentage obtained from the number of passengers carried, indicating the congestion degree of the train and pasenger cars constituting the train in the form of a bar graph.

Passengers are allowed to judge the boarding percentage of the train they are about to take and the congestion degree of each car thereof by the display and select relatively less congested train and passenger car.

Although passenger monitors 24 are used to monitor the number of passengers carried on a train according to the embodiment above of the present invention, such monitoring is not always limited to what is implemented on a train when only the acquisition of data on the number of passengers per train serves the purpose, i.e., the number of passengers may be monitored on the ground side using sensors on the stations to compute the number of passengers on board, by sensing passengers entering and leaving the train at successive stations.

As set forth above, since the train operation control system thus arranged according to the present invention is designed to use the number of passengers on board trains and that on the platforms as inputs for controlling the operation thereof, data on the flow of passengers is readily obtained and passenger service is improved because congestion is made re lievable by allowing passengers to easily select less crowded trains. Accordingly, the system is effective in making possible smooth operation control corresponding to the number of passengers.

Claims

1. A train operation control system for controlling the operation of trains using input data on the number of passengers on board a train and the number of passengers monitored on the platform of each station.

2. A train operation control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of passengers on board a train is monitored on said train.

3. A train operation control system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the data on the number of passengers on board a train is displayed to the view of passengers on the platform.

4. A train operation control installation including first means for assessing the number of passengers on board a train, second means for assessing the number of passengers on the platform of a station and processing means which receives data from said first and second means and which provides corresponding control data for controlling operation of trains.

5. An installation as claimed in claim 4 in which said first means includes sensors on board the train.

6. An installation as claimed in claim 4 in which said first means includes sensors on the stations for sensing numbers of passengers entering and leaving a train at successive stations and computing means for computing from data provided by such sensor the number of passengers on board the train.

7. An installation as claimed in any of claims 4, 5 and 6 in which the number of passengers in each car of the train is assessed separately.

8. An installation as claimed in claim 7 including data display means at the station visible to the waiting passengers indicating the availability of space in at least one approaching train.

9. An installation as claimed in claim 8 in which said display means comprises a separate display section for each car of the train.

1 0. An installation as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 in which said display means has a separate display for each of a plurality of approaching trains.

11. An installation as claimed in claim 10 in which each separate display also indicates the expected time of arrival of the relevant train.

1 2. A train operation control installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.