- Shorter trains can both fall behind to stop at smaller stations on the route and accelerate again to be picked up on front by a following train
Operation
- Single Slip Coaching is the standard procedure for slip coaching
- Multiple shorter trains (each consisting of 1-4 coaches) run as one virtual trainset in highly frequented stations and on busy routes
- The shorter trains split in front of intermediate stations to stop independently of each other
- The shorter trains both fall behind to stop at smaller stations on the route and accelerate again to be picked up on front by a following main trainset
- The procedure allows the main trainset to proceed at full speed and requires only a single through track and no switches
Chances
- Improved service for intermediate stations
- Travel times are reduced significantly by only stopping once or not at all between the main stations
- Case study: reduction of travel times of over 10 %
- Combining multiple trains saves track capacity
- Case study: doubled track capacity (seats per hour and number of trains)
- More direct connections
- Less delay potential in case of increased passenger volume due to longer dwell times
- Benefit of digitalisation: capacity increase on existing infrastructure
Challenges
- Passenger movement on the train is limited to the part of the train in which the passenger is located
- It is not possible to change to other train parts during trip or at station stops because of virtual coupling
- Boarding of passengers into the correct coach is very important
- Passenger guidance at the station platform is essential for correct boarding
- High requirements for operational punctuality
- Strong dependencies between different train parts
Case Study results
|
Conventional Trains |
Single Slip Coaching |
Double Slip Coaching |
Hannover - Frankfurt |
max. trains per hour |
2 |
4 |
4 |
max. seats per hour |
1660 |
3240 |
6560 |
travel time |
2:19 |
2:05 |
2:07 |
Brunswick - Frankfurt |
max. trains per hour |
1 |
2 |
2 |
max. seats per hour |
830 |
1620 |
3280 |
travel time |
2:47 |
2:19 |
2:21 |