Rationing of the number of signals and interlockings in the operational stock of railway stations

Abstract

The operational stock of signals and interlockings is necessary to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the electric interlocking systems in the event of their component failure. The existing standards for the composition and number of signals and interlockings available in the operational stock of railway stations are not mathematically based. It is considered the task of justifying the number of signals and interlockings in the operational stock of railway stations, and the factors affecting its quantity are indicated. It is proposed the mathematical model for rationing the amount of equipment necessary to ensure the uninterrupted operation of station signals and interlocking systems with a specified probability. The process of using and replenishment of reserve equipment is described using the the single-channel Markov queuing system model with a limited queue. The proposed probabilistic methodology approbation for the rationing of the amount of reserve equipment was carried out at the stations of the two Belarusian Railway divisions totaling to 58 stations equipped with relay and computer-based electric interlocking. It is shown the efficiency of the calculated amount of equipment in comparison with the existing values.