Integration of time-domain simulation models of vehicles and components

This paper presents some results of the European research project ESCARV. The objective of ESCARV (Electrical System Compatibility for Advanced Railway Vehicles) is to overcome ESC problems by jointly tackling the most important aspects [1]. An important goal of the project is to establish an open modelling framework and adequate subsystem models for the complete railway system and, as a second goal, to reliably predict and avoid interoperability problems before putting a system into operation. This will, as a third goal, lead to a design process and a set of design recommendations for new vehicles as well as input to new or updated European standards. The ESCARV work package 'Methods and tools' has the responsibility for producing recommendations on the integration of models from various players to enable total railway system simulation [2]. Within the frame of ESCARV, several important ESC problems that trouble European railways and manufacturers today are dealt with. One of these, which is especially elaborated in the paper, regards the concurrent simulation of different models from different manufacturers which are applied to the TAF commuter trains of the Italian State Railway FS. Taking the TAF case as an example, procedures for the investigation and the early recognition of such problems have to be worked out. These procedures have to be applied in practice, and - in an improved and verified form - can serve as 'best practice' or as guidelines or requirements for new or updated European standards.