Braking Dynamics of High-speed Passenger Trains.

Vehicles for international use within Europe are equipped with compatible automatic air brakes. Location of the controller at the air supply point means that no separate energy supply or control is required on the vehicle, but the effectively long line of flow of the control signal prohibits the application of brakes simultaneously throughout the length of the train. Consequently, there is congestion and strain in the system and a need for extra braking as train length increase. With so-called braking accelerators these drawbacks can be alleviated, and, as is generally known, they can be avoided altogether with electropneumatic control, at the cost of extra equipment for the purpose. With correct coupling to the electric brakes on the locomotives all vehicles can be made to brake simultaneously and with similar retarding characteristics.