Background

Dr Powell’s current role is the technical lead in the development of a linear motor braking system for railway vehicles, based on the work in his PhD. In addition to developing the concept design and performance specification, this role also includes extensive multi-train simulation work to analyse the capacity benefits of improved braking systems. Other major projects have included specifying and validating a physics-based simulation tool that predicts train movements and energy consumption for the SafeCap project, which uses formal methods to analyse the safety and capacity of signalling design schemas and traffic management strategies, and the EU FP7 project MERLIN, which aimed to develop an integrated railway energy management system for main line electrified railways using smart grid technology. He has published and presented on a number of railway engineering and operational topics, including signalling and driving style, railway energy consumption, automatic train operation and passenger safety/security.

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Publications

• Powell JP, Palacin R. Development and Comparison of Algorithms to Derive Vehicle Location from Speed Profile Data. Urban Rail Transit 2019, 5(1), 48-63.
• Powell JP, Batty P, González-Gil A, Palacin R. Determining system-wide energy use in an established metro network. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part F: Rail and Rapid Transit 2017, 231(5), 570-577.
• Powell JP, Palacin R. Driving style for ERTMS in-cab and conventional line side signalling: an exploratory study. IF - Ingegneria Ferroviaria 2016, 71(12), 927-942.
• Powell JP, Fraszczyk A, Cheong CN, Yeung HK. Potential Benefits and Obstacles of Implementing Driverless Train Operation on the Tyne and Wear Metro: A Simulation Exercise. Urban Rail Transit 2016, 2(3), 114-127.
• Powell JP, Palacin R. A comparison of modelled and real-life driving profiles for the simulation of railway vehicle operation. Transportation Planning and Technology 2015, 38(1), 78-93.
• Powell JP, Palacin R. Benchmarking suburban, regional and freight train driving styles in a mixed-traffic railway. In: RailNewcastle Conference. 2015, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
• Powell J, Palacin R. Passenger stability within moving railway vehicles: Limits on maximum longitudinal acceleration. Urban Rail Transit 2015, 1(2), 95-103.
• González-Gil A, Palacin R, Batty P, Powell JP. A systems approach to reduce urban rail energy consumption. Energy Conversion and Management 2014, 80, 509-524.
• Powell JP, González-Gil A, Palacin R. Experimental assessment of the energy consumption of urban rail vehicles during stabling hours: influence of ambient temperature. Applied Thermal Engineering 2014, 66(1-2), 541-547.
• Palacin R, Powell J. dynamic conditions of urban and suburban railway vehicles: Influence in passenger confort and safety. In: World Congress on Rail Research (WCRR11). 2011, Lille, France.
• Powell J, Fletcher D. The need for developing an effective and acceptable engineering response to terrorist attacks on railway systems. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit 2011, 225(4), 359-371.
• Kappia J, Fletcher D, Bosher L, Powell J. The acceptability of counter-terrorism measures on urban mass transit in the UK. In: WIT Transactions on the Built Environment: Urban Transport XV. 2009, Bologna, Italy: WIT Press.