Estimation on the enhancement permissible speed around curves for tilting train on the Gyeongbu line in the Korean rail Network

초록

The development of tilting trains in Korea started in 2001 as research & development project. A 6-car prototype test tilting train, called the Tilting Train eXpress (TTX), was built in December 2006 and experimental trials began in 2007. TTX has distributed power, is designed to run at 200 km/h, and has a planned service speed of 180 km/h. In this paper, the running time and time saving of tilting train was evaluated compared with today’s conventional DMU trains and non-tilting EMU trains, based on the Gyeongbu line, which was candidate for tilting train operation between Seoul and Busan(441.7km). We evaluated the potential of a speed-up of tilting trains on curves, on the basis of the trial run data of tilting train on the Gyeongbu line and present tilting trains’ competitiveness in terms of travel time and speed. And we also analyzed dynamic running stability and riding comfort of tilting control though trial run train. We found a significant reduction of the journey times compared with today’s conventional trains. Approximately 11% reduction is expected on the Gyeongbu line.