Energy calibration
How much electricity a night train draws was measured for this model.
The source
Deutsche Bahn Trassenfinder returns the technical energy consumption of a specified train over a specified route. Querying it systematically across many routes, train weights, lengths and speed profiles produced the dataset the model is fitted to.
The shape of the model
Consumption on a country leg is the sum of four physically meaningful terms:
- start-stop energy, proportional to the train's mass, the cost of getting a heavy train moving again after each stop
- rolling resistance, per tonne-kilometre over the distance run
- air resistance, rising with train length and with the square of average speed, which is why a faster schedule costs disproportionately more to run
- on-board supply for the running time: locomotive systems plus heating, air conditioning and lighting in the coaches
Train weight
The model's train weight is coaches at 80% load, excluding the locomotive. Trassenfinder's own figure excludes the traction unit, so the calibration data was collected on that basis, and the locomotive's own resistance is folded into the fitted per-kilometre constant.
Found a mistake?
This documentation describes a model that is still being built, and some of it will be wrong. If a number looks off, a source is missing, or an explanation does not hold up, tell us — it reaches the working group with the page you were reading.