Analysis of Wind Speed Characteristics Along a High-Speed Railway

The safe operation of high-speed railways (HSRs) is significantly challenged by strong winds. Accurate wind speed prediction along HSRs is crucial for ensuring the safety of train operations. However, existing research primarily focuses on designing and improving data-driven models, with limited attention given to the characteristics of wind speed specific to HSR environments. To address this gap, this study analyzes the wind speed characteristics of weather stations (WSs) and railway stations (RSs) along an HSR. These characteristics are explored from multiple perspectives, including wind speed variability, amplitude, correlation, wind speed distribution, and turbulence across different time scales. Additionally, the normalized cumulative periodogram (NCP) and Bartlett’s test are employed to quantify wind speed predictability. A wind speed prediction model is then developed based on predictability analysis. The findings reveal that RS wind speeds differ significantly from WS wind speeds, exhibiting higher volatility. The predictability of wind speed is influenced by the sampling interval: as the sampling time increases, the predictability and length of the predictable historical wind speed period decrease. By establishing a prediction model grounded in wind speed predictability analysis, irrelevant historical wind speed data can be excluded, improving the model’s prediction accuracy. Predictability analysis thus provides a robust foundation for forecasting strong winds along HSRs, ultimately enhancing train operation safety.