Coasting boards vs optimalcontrol

Freightmiser is a proven in-cab driver advice system that provides information to train drivers to help them drive efficiently and stay on time. The system has demonstrated fuel savings of up to 22% on a wide variety of railways, including: (1) bulk grain trains (2) long-haul freight trains (3) high-speed intercity passenger trains (4) slow roll-on-roll-off trains . The information provided to the driver can be tailored to each application, and can include (5) depictions of the track showing gradients, curves, speed limits and trackside features, (6) estimated arrival times at key locations, (7) the ideal driving speed and driving mode. The driving strategy minimises the mechanical work done by the train engines to move the train between key locations in the time available, and so will save fuel or energy on any type of traction system, with or without regenerative braking. The optimal driving strategy uses four driving modes: power, speed-hold, coast and brake. The optimal sequence of control modes and precise switching points are continuously updated based on the observed location and speed of the train, which are determined using GPS. The system takes into account train performance, gradients, curves and speed limits. Unlike coasting boards, the system automatically adjusts the strategy to take into account variations in train performance and variations in speed and timekeeping.