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 depending on a thermal condition of at least one friction element of at least one friction brake of the rail vehicle, the method comprising:

• detecting at least one parameter characterizing a current operating situation of the rail vehicle;
• determining or estimating a first influence on the thermal condition 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 condition of the at least one friction element based on the current operating situation of the rail vehicle;
• determining the optimum or maximum-permissible speed of the rail vehicle so that, at the at least one friction element under the first influence and under the second influence, a permitted friction-element maximum temperature of the at least one friction element is not exceeded, or the permitted friction-element maximum temperature of the at least one friction element is substantially obtained,
• wherein the second influence, in addition to the first influence, influences the thermal condition of the at least one friction element when braking with a defined braking mode is carried out notionally or theoretically in the current operating situation of the rail vehicle.