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 by:
• determining or estimating a second influence on the thermal condition of the at least one friction element which, in addition to the first influence, would influence the thermal condition of the at least one friction element if braking with a defined braking mode were to be carried out notionally or theoretically in the current operating situation of the rail vehicle,
• determining the optimum or maximum-permissible speed of the rail vehicle in such a way that, at the at least one friction element under the first influence and under the second influence,
• wherein 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.