Practical Strategy Optimisation

Abstract

For a prescribed sequence of fuel supply rates it has been shown that a strategy of optimal type depends on two real number parameters, λ and µ. The parameter µ determines the hold speed for the journey, and the parameter λ determines the size of the coast-power pairs used to approximate speed-holding. These parameters also determine the switching points and ultimately determine the distance travelled by the train and the time taken for the journey. As the magnitude of the coast-power pairs decreases the strategy approaches an idealised strategy that is determined by the hold speed alone. By adjusting the value of the hold speed it is possible to construct a feasible strategy.