A feasibility study of railway power swapping from diesel-electric propulsion to pure-electric propulsion in urban areas

This research is a feasibility study of railway power swapping from diesel-electric propulsion to pure-electric propulsion in urban areas, The benefits are the cost of energy saving and lower tailpipe emissions. The numerical models and mathematics simulation scenarios have been made for considering the net energy-consuming and differences. The rail vehicles of the State Railway of Thailand namely Alsthom for the locomotive type, and NKF for the diesel multiple unit (DMU) type, were considered. There are eight types of modifications, there were battery-electric shunting locomotive (BESL), battery electric locomotive (BEL), overhead catenary system electric shunting locomotive (OCSESL), overhead catenary system electric locomotive (OCSEL), battery electric shunting multiple unit (BESMU), battery electric multiple unit (BEMU), overhead catenary system electric shunting multiple unit (OCSESMU) and overhead catenary system electric multiple unit (OCSEMU). Two train routes were considered as short and long routes as follows. The short route of 30.3 km with 11 stations from Bangkok station to Phra-Chom-Klao station for investigating in case of shunting locomotive and shunting DMU. The long route of 61.4 km with 19 stations from Bangkok station to Chum-Thang-Chachoengsao station for investigating in case of diesel-electric locomotives and DMU. The results show that electrification by using the overhead catenary system offers the most cost-effective travel option.