Guidance for Optimized Loco Driving (GOLD) system is based on principle that pareto front of different driving strategies for a journey plotted on Journey Time vs Fuel consumed for the journey follows an inverse relationship. Hence, any journey can be completed in different amount of times and there will always be one optimal driving strategy which consumes the least energy (hence fuel) for each journey time.

The system simulates the speed profile for a given trip by taking various factors into account acting on the train. The total available time for a trip is fully utilized to achieve minimum fuel consumption for complete trip. Optimal speed profiles and power (notch) level are continuously displayed to the driver as advisory input.