Train Timetable Stability Evaluation based on Analysis of Interior and Exterior Factors Information Entropy

To evaluate the quality of the train timetable roundly, train timetable stability is defined based on the analysis of the interior and exterior factors affecting the timetable stability. The exterior factors include the grade of the railway lines, the blocking system type, the station interlocking type, the leading locomotive performance and the average mileage of the sections. The interior factors are the capacity load of the sections, the capacity load of the stations, the total time supplement for running in the sections, the total time supplement for dwelling on the stations, the timetable periodic time and the buffer times between train paths. We define the information entropy of the exterior factors and the interior factors and present the equation to calculate the information entropy. Then train timetable stability is quantized according to the definitions above. The computing case proves the method to evaluate the train timetable stability is feasible and efficient.