Estimated carrying capacity based on different signal types for Vietnam’s high-speed railway plan

Abstract

Research on high-speed railways is a relatively new yet highly significant field in Vietnam. Among its key components, train control signaling plays a critical role, as it directly affects various interconnected systems, including infrastructure, traction power supply, operational planning, and overall railway safety. This article focuses on evaluating the capacity of the line based on the types of signals suitable for high-speed railways that have been effectively implemented in several European countries and successfully adapted in China. The research and simulation are conducted using MATLAB software, a reliable and widely adopted tool in the scientific community. The findings demonstrate that under normal conditions, the European Railway Traffic Management System/European Train Control System (ERTMS/ETCS) Level 2 signaling can support up to 23.7485 trains/hour/direction. Meanwhile, ERTMS/ETCS Level 3 with full moving block can accommodate up to 30.8735 trains/hour/direction, and ERTMS/ETCS Level 3 with fixed virtual blocks up to 29.4694 trains/hour/direction. In emergency scenarios, ERTMS/ETCS Level 3 with full moving block reduces headway by 33.27 % compared to CTCS Level 3, while ERTMS/ETCS Level 3 with fixed virtual blocks achieves a 28.78 % reduction. Overall, the ERTMS/ETCS Level 3 emerges as a state-of-the-art signaling technology offering high capacity and operational efficiency, and is recommended as a forward-looking solution for future implementation in Vietnam.

Keywords

Headway / Line capacity / High-speed railway / Signal control / ERTMS/ETCS

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