Optimalization of Mass Rapid Transit System

Paris Metropolitan is the major transporting system that serves millions of commuters everyday in metropolitan areas. The networks are high frequency service established mainly in underground tunnels or on elevated tracks, separated from other traffic. There are 16 lines that are mostly in underground railway tunnels stretching for 214 km and also 301 stations, in which 62 of them are to facilitate transfers to other lines. The author will start by evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of this transporting system. Effectiveness in engineering terms means doing the right things that are related to the quality of the service. The service quality in this research is related to the end users. Meanwhile, efficiency in engineering terms means doing the right things that are related to energy consumption. The typical inter-station procedure starts with a train accelerating from a station to the maximum speed and maintaining the speed until it is necessary to hit the brakes to a halt for the next station. Usually, the running time is the shortest and the energy consumption is the highest when the train is running closest to the maximum permissible speed throughout the trip. The traction motors are allowed to be turned off once the train accelerates above a certain speed if coasting is allowed. With the application of coasting, the momentum of the train will carry it through and the brake will be needed to bring the train to a stop at the next station. The inter-station run time is longer but the energy saving can be achieved due to the fact that the train has spent lesser time on motoring.