An implementation of cellular automaton model for single-line train working diagram

According to the railway transportation system's characteristics, a newcellular automaton model for the single-line railway system is presented inthis paper. Based on this model, several simulations were done to imitatethe train operation under three working diagrams. From a different angle theresults show how the organization of train operation impacts on the railwaycarrying capacity. By using the non-parallel train working diagram theinfluence of fast-train on slow-train is found to be the strongest. Manyslow-trains have to wait in-between neighbouring stations to let thefast-train(s) pass through first. So the slow-train will advance like a wavepropagating from the departure station to the arrival station. This alsoresembles the situation of a highway jammed traffic flow. Furthermore, thenonuniformity of travel times between the sections also greatly limits therailway carrying capacity. After converting the nonuniform sections into thesections with uniform travel times while the total travel time is keptunchanged, all three carrying capacities are improved greatly as shown bysimulation. It also shows that the cellular automaton model is an effectiveand feasible way to investigate the railway transportation system.