ZETA-TECH Associates is a technical consulting company with strong expertise in the areas of railroad operations analysis, transportation control system evaluation, track and vehicle analysis, maintenance planning, and information system development and implementation.
ZETA-TECH has been extensively involved in the estimation of line capacity and the investigation of various innovative train control systems, including the Advanced Train Control System (ATCS), Railstar, and the Advanced Railroad Electronics System (ARES). In a nearly two year long project, ZETA-TECH worked as part of a team quantifying the benefits of one of these systems for a large U.S. railroad. The project required extensive simulation of train operations and modeling of line capacity and dispatching performance. A non-linear, mixed integer optimization program was applied to actual train movement data to produce a "best" operating plan based on actual train performance capabilities, and the resulting increase in effective line capacity was quantified.
As part of this work, ZETA-TECH developed a mathematical model to associate effectiveness of train dispatching with three predictive variables:
Regression analysis indicated a good predictive capability for the model. The regression-derived coefficients can be used in this model to determine the costs and benefits of signaling changes versus additional sidings or double track. This model has been used on two large U.S. railroads to assist in forecasting capital needs.
ZETA-TECH has performed several studies of the comparative economics of different types of freight equipment for several railroads. Equipment types evaluated have included bulk commodity cars for coal and grain service, as well as several intermodal rail equipment designs. Costs were developed for alternative operating scenarios including variations in train lengths, motive power assignments, and routings. In these analyses, not only the characteristics of the cars themselves, but terminal loading and unloading operations as well, were considered. A principal tool in the analysis was a sophisticated train operations simulation model, which calculates running time and fuel consumption of trains, given route geometry, train consist, and speed limits.
In the analysis of intermodal equipment, a major issue was the incidence of extremely heavy axle loads caused by random placement of heavy containers on the trains. ZETA-TECH developed a statistical simulation process to estimate the extent of overloading, and a load planning algorithm to control it.
As an extension of this work, ZETA-TECH evaluated the potential for operating cost reductions through changes in route profiles. A train simulation model was used to identify locations where grades and/or speed limits required excessive locomotive horsepower. Line changes were prepared to eliminate the restrictions, and a cost/benefit analysis was carried out to determine capital costs and operating savings.
BACK Copyright © 2000 by ZETA-TECH Associates, Inc.