Cost-Reducing Optimization Strategies of Electrical Trains

The development of Railway Smart Grids (RSGs) has multi-fold benefits [1]. Trains are flexible demands and thus it is possible to have a multitude of velocity profiles satisfying the same end-to-end time constraints. This opens up the opportunities of cost of energy optimization in RSGs in addition to energy optimization in electric railways. In this paper, we have proposed the idea of transaction of energy between the trains and external loads when there is a difference between the day-ahead and real-time electricity price. This is made possible by the flexibility of the power demand of the trains. This case has been analyzed on Acela express running on Northeast Corridor for different trips. The results show promise in that the participating entities can make profit on successful price negotiation.