Annotation:
the promising virtual coupling technology to solve the problem of increasing the capacity of a
railway section. For this purpose, the relevance of the issue of capacity development with the help
of organizational and technical measures i. e. improving the systems of collision avoidance of train
traffi c is considered. The main types of collision avoidance of train traffi c systems are presented, the
technology of driving a connected train is studied, in which the trains are physically combined, and the
movement is synchronized thanks to the intelligent system of automated driving of trains of increased
weight and length with locomotives distributed along the length The advantages and disadvantages
of this technology are given. In more detail, we consider the technology of movement in a virtual
coupling, in which two trains move at the minimum possible distance from each other due to the
exchange of information over the radio channel. The possible ways of organizing a virtual coupling
are compared: the use of radio block centers which are a technical means that processes information
from locomotives and issues control signals, as well as the use of a “virtual coupling” for the direct
exchange of information between locomotives. References to the works of foreign authors on the
organization of CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) are given. Technical problems (the lack of
a control mode, the need to equip the railway network with radio communication) and technological
problems that arise when implementing this technology (the complexity of processing the increased
number of trains arriving at the station) are considered. In conclusion, the scheme of effective
application of virtual coupling technology for solving the problem of increasing the capacity of railway
sections is constructed. It is concluded that the task of increasing throughput requires a comprehensive
approach to the solution, taking into account all the technical and technological features of the
site.