Scientific paper ID 1599 : 2018/3

The normative duration of the accidental train movement interruption is determined on the basis of total costs optimization. For this purpose, a methodology is developed and presented. The total costs consist of two components: costs for removal of the effects occurred due to an accident and additional exploitation costs. Costs for removal of the effects occurred due to the accident depend on the interruption realization time. The type of theoretical curve is in a hyperbolic form and its specific analytic type is derived on the basis of statistical data. The additional exploitation costs depend on the train delays caused by the interruption and are composed of two components. The first component s delays costs related to the train detention time for the interruption realization period, and the second component s costs for delays in the period for movement normalization. These expenses are described with a second-order function to interruption duration. In the methodology the specific exploitation conditions are reported: existing capacity and intensity of train traffic. Dependencies were established to determine the optimal duration of the traffic interruption and the corresponding minimum total costs, and the costs of components depending on the relative busyness of a given track section. The relative busyness is determined on the basis of existing movement capacity and intensity determined by the train movement schedule in effect. The so obtained optimal duration is accepted as normative and is a benchmark for maintenance services and traffic management.