BRAKE CONTROL DEVICE, AND BRAKE CONTROL METHOD

A required brake force calculator calculates a required brake force for each vehicle based on a load on the vehicle or carriage detected by a variable load detector and a brake command acquired by a command acquirer. A target brake force calculator, based on the required brake force, calculates a common target brake force for a vehicle driven by a main electric motor and calculates a common target brake force for a vehicle not driven by a main electric motor. A control pattern generator, based on the target brake force and a vehicle speed detected by a speed detector, generates a common control pattern for electric power converters. An electric brake force calculator calculates an electric brake force generated by operation of main electric motors. A supplementer sends a brake force command value based on the electric brake force and the target brake force to mechanical brakes.