Standardised approach to energy consumption calculations for high-speed rail

Over recent years, high-speed rail (HSR) has increased its maximum speed of operation and strengthened its presence as a major transportation mode. However, the energy consumption of HSR has in general increased as well. In the current climate of rising concern about environmental and economic problems, energy-efficient operational strategies should be investigated, which requires a precise understanding of the relationship between energy consumption and maximum speed. There is some previous research in the field; however, it is presented in different ways and shows different pictures of energy consumption. In this study, the authors present a review of previous work and highlight the inconsistencies between the calculations. In addition, a standardised approach for energy consumption calculations for HSR is provided and an investigation of the cause of inconsistencies in previous work is presented. Through this process, the worth of the proposed standardised approach is demonstrated.