Train energy consumption

In a system where infrastructure management and operation are separated, it is customary for the operators to pay track access charges to the infrastructure company for every operating train. The charge usually includes costs of the energy required to drive the train. E.g. in Switzerland the charge is expressed as a cost per tonne.kilometre for every train category.

SBB commissioned ENOTRAC to investigate the actual energy consumed by trains and the equivalent amount of energy as included in the track access charge. The study covered tilting trains (ICN) and Re460-hauled passenger trains for the long distance traffic on the most important lines. Train energy consumption data were recorded continuously on the vehicle computer and subsequently analysed. A similar measurement method was used on SBB cargo freight trains.

For the tap-changer locomotives Re 420 and Re 620, the energy consumption was calculated using the ENOTRAC simulation tool FABEL. Various factors such as train load, additional stops, and influence of regenerative braking were examined. The calculations were validated against data from earlier measurements.