ALTRIOS: Advanced Locomotive Technology and Rail Infrastructure Optimization System

The Advanced Locomotive Technology and Rail Infrastructure Optimization System (ALTRIOS) is the first fully integrated, open-source software to simulate and optimize the rollout of cost-effective locomotive technologies.

ALTRIOS is a simulation and optimization software tool to guide railway operators, locomotive manufacturers, government regulatory agencies, national labs, and universities toward cost-effective, optimized solutions for advanced, efficient rail technologies. It was built by a multidisciplinary team spanning government, industry, and higher education.

Approach and Uses

ALTRIOS simulates real-world, multidecade rail network operation in a single unified model, including the following aspects of rail operation that impact energy use:

• Freight demand-driven train scheduling constrained by technology-specific operating requirements
• Algorithmically generated target speed traces corresponding to sequences of train departure, meet, and pass events to ensure conflict-free operation
• Train dynamics, including effects of grade, drag, inertia, rolling resistance, and curvature
• Locomotive powertrain technologies including diesel electric, battery electric, fuel cell, advanced biofuel, and hybrid fuel technologies
• Operating condition-based locomotive component efficiencies
• Power distribution controls for train consists to minimize powertrain-specific energy consumption
• Locomotives' interactions with fueling and charging infrastructure
• External constraints such as railcar size and weight limitations, authorized speeds, and grade and curve resistance
• Sensitivity studies and optimization to explore the rollout of advanced locomotive technologies.

ALTRIOS helps railroads and manufacturers evaluate new technologies, improve operations, and streamline logistics. It can also help determine tailored implementation strategies for advanced, optimized locomotive technologies and associated infrastructure—all while minimizing operational costs and scheduling impacts.

It is the only tool on the market that combines locomotive and energy storage technology models with robust train dispatching, corridor simulations, and a high-level train planning tool.

ALTRIOS is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.