New Control Method of On-board ATC System of Shinkansen Trains

Abstract

Shinkansen trains are now being operated under the Automatic Train Control (ATC) system and are automatically decelerated and stopped at stations when necessary by the ATC system. The ATC system is based on the on-board signal transmitted from wayside equipment via track circuits. The ATC brake is activated when a train received a signal speed lower than the train speed and is released when the train speed becomes lower than the signal speed. Because the length of block section is determined by the ATC brake force in the worst case, the train normally decelerates so fast that it coasts a certain period up to the end of the block section as shown in Fig. 1.
We studied the control method of on-board ATC system for Shinkansen train to shorten the operation time and reduce the adverse effects of changes in deceleration on ride comfort, while maintaining the safety and reliability of present ATC signal system. We propose an on-board pattern brake control system based on the present ATC data without changing wayside equipment. When compared with the simulated operation time under the present ATC brake control system, the operation time by this proposed method is 47.6 seconds less, after brake is applied until the train stops at the Hakata Terminal station, with series 500 Shinkansen train. This paper discusses the system and effects of the on-board pattern.