METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN OPTIMUM OR MAXIMUM-PERMISSIBLE SPEED OF A RAIL VEHICLE

A method for determining an optimum or maximum-permissible speed of a rail vehicle, dependent on a thermal state of at least one friction element of at least one friction brake of includes detecting at least one parameter which characterizes a current operating situation of the rail vehicle, determining or estimating a first influence on the thermal state of the at least one friction element based on the current operating situation of the rail vehicle, determining or estimating a second influence on the thermal state of the at least one friction element, determining the optimum or maximum-permissible speed of the rail vehicle in such a way that an allowed friction-element maximum temperature of the at least one friction element is not exceeded, or the allowed friction-element maximum temperature of the at least one friction element is substantially obtained, at the at least one friction element under the first or second influence.