Railway Area Research Articles

An experimental investigation on the tribological behavior of brake pads for high-speed trains in sandy environments

Addressing the tribological issues of train braking in sandy railway areas, an experimental study was conducted utilizing a self-developed high-speed train brake dynamometer. Three different sand particle size ranges served as mediums to investigate the friction and wear characteristics of brake pads, thermal distribution at the interface, and interfacial vibration and noise characteristics in sandy environments. The study focused on the evolution and disparities in interfacial tribological behavior and explored the relationship between the surface wear of brake pads and other interfacial behaviors. The results indicate that introducing all three types of sand particles increases the interfacial friction coefficient and disrupts the original wear debris layer on the brake pad surface. However, significant differences were observed in the surface wear behavior under different sand particle sizes. The incorporation of very fine sand (VFS) led to the formation of three distinct wear characteristic regions on the brake pad surface, gradually increasing interfacial temperature difference. In contrast, the interfacial temperature difference gradually became more uniform under fine sand (FS) and medium sand (MS) conditions. Furthermore, a diminishing trend in the tendency for interface-induced vibration and noise was noted under VFS and FS conditions, while its intensity progressively increased under MS conditions.

Glosa krytyczna do wyroku Wojewódzkiego Sądu Administracyjnego w Warszawie z dnia 11 kwietnia 2023 r. (VII SA/Wa 2467/22)

The commentary concerns the judgment of the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw of 11 April 2023, in which the Court referred to the interpretation of the concept of a railway area. The Court’s position deviates from the standards of linguistic interpretation and the accepted practice of administrative authorities. Due to its significant relevance to the process of agreements made by the President of the Office of Rail Transport, the discussed judgment is important for the practice of administrative bodies involved in spatial planning and development. The commentary is critical in nature and considers that the Court, by applying inappropriate interpretive tools, deviated from a linguistic interpretation that was unjustified in the context of the previous case law and doctrinal views.

Energy Management Strategy of Microgrid based on Photovoltaic and Energy Storage System in Construction Area of Sichuan-Tibet Railway

The construction area of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway is located at a high altitude with thin air condition, but it benefits from excellent solar irradiance. To address issues such as insufficient power and low efficiency of traditional fuel-based equipment in such harsh environments, electric equipment is being employed as a replacement for conventional fuel-based equipment. In order to achieve sustainable development for the Sichuan-Tibet Railway, this article proposes that a microgrid can be conducted in the construction area of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway which will provide power to the electric equipment during the construction process and to electric locomotives upon completion. This article compares the characteristics of AC microgrids and DC microgrids, analyses and simulates the mathematical model of key converters, and introduces their control strategies. This article adopts a hybrid AC-DC microgrid for research purposes and proposes a time-period-controlled energy management strategy for the photovoltaic-storage hybrid AC-DC microgrid in the construction area of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway. The simulation results demonstrate that the AC-DC microgrid in the construction area based on the proposed time-period-controlled energy management strategy could effectively meet the load demands of different time periods and provides power to the electric equipment used in the construction area of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway.

Thermal stress simulation analysis of aerospace optical fibers and connectors and related extensions to high-speed railway area

Aerospace optical cables and fiber-optic connectors have numerous advantages (e.g., low loss, wide transmission frequency band, large capacity, light weight, and excellent resistance to electromagnetic interference). They can achieve optical communication interconnections and high-speed bidirectional data transmission between optical terminals and photodetectors in space, ensuring the stability and reliability of data transmission during spacecraft operations in orbit. They have become essential components in high-speed networking and optically interconnected communications for spacecrafts. Thermal stress simulation analysis is important for evaluating the temperature stress concentration phenomenon resulting from temperature fluctuations, temperature gradients, and other factors in aerospace optical cables and connectors under the combined effects of extreme temperatures and vacuum environments. Considering this, advanced optical communication technology has been widely used in high-speed railway communication networks to transmit safe, stable and reliable signals, as high-speed railway optical communication in special areas with extreme climates, such as cold and high-temperature regions, requires high-reliability optical cables and connectors. Therefore, based on the finite element method, comprehensive comparisons were made between the thermal distributions of aerospace optical cables and J599III fiber optic connectors under different conditions, providing a theoretical basis for evaluating the performance of aerospace optical cables and connectors in space environments and meanwhile building a technical foundation for potential optical communication applications in the field of high-speed railways.

Effects of the turbulent incoming flow condition on the wind–snow flow characteristics and accretion distribution in the cutting area of the high-speed railway

In addressing snowdrift disasters in high-speed railway cutting areas, this study utilized the improved delayed detached eddy simulation turbulence model, synthetic eddy method, and Eulerian two-phase flow model (Euler–Euler). Coupled with grid dynamic deformation techniques, the investigation facilitated extracting temporal variations in snow particle accumulation profiles within the cutting areas. The predicting accuracy of the numerical method was validated through the wind tunnel and wind–snow experimental data. Building upon this foundation, the study investigated how uniform and turbulent flow conditions impact snow distribution in the high-speed railway cutting areas. The analysis examined the turbulent flow structures, friction velocity distribution, and snow accretion contours within the cutting area. Findings indicate that the snow mass on the windward slope in the cutting area remains consistent under both flow conditions. However, there are significant differences in the rate of snow mass growth and the characteristics of snow accretion distribution. The disappearance of vortex structures at the base of the leeward slope is crucial for indicating the transition in the accumulation states of the surrounding snow particles. Under turbulent incoming flow conditions, the transition from large-scale vortex systems to vortex pairs on the leeward slope of the cutting is delayed, resulting in a postponed stable growth period for snow accretion. Additionally, strong erosion between the track bed and the leeward slope results in reduced snow accretion mass in these areas. In particular, at the simulation time of t = 150 min, under turbulent incoming flow conditions, the overall snow accumulation in the cutting decreased by 20.8% compared to the uniform incoming flow conditions. The snow mass in the leeward slope area decreased by 38.3%, and the track bed area experienced a 23.3% reduction in snow accumulation. In contrast, the snow quantity on the windward slope remained relatively consistent.

Выбор оптимального варианта формирования и регулирования соединенных поездов

The issues of the efficiency of using connected trains to increase the carrying capacity of the electrified railway areas are considered. The way of choosing the best option to form and regulate the connected trains when organizing cargo correspondence which provides the most total profit with less total expenses is introduced. It is suggested to develop a forced schedule of trains traffic (the schedule of trains traffic with connected trains moving in forward and backward directions) in order to provide safety of the transportation process under conditions of the constant decrease of the railways carrying capacity reserve. Trains traffic schedule is developed which includes, in its core, a solid thread of connected trains and the algorithm of the organization of their use. The best option of the formation and regulation of connected trains when organizing cargo correspondence is chosen for an area with weather and infrastructure constraints on the criteria of receiving the most total profit under the least total expenses of the transportation process participants.

Railway Freight Corridors in the European Union

With the approval of four regulatory railway packages of the European Union, the development of railway traffic, the opening of the goods and passenger transport market, the expansion of liberalisation, the removal of barriers, and the gradual establishment of a single European railway area have been achieved. The competitiveness and efficiency of freight railways in Europe have been accomplished by establishing international freight corridors. The Alpine–Balkan rail freight corridor was established for more accessible and better-quality goods transport services between Central and Southeast Europe with a connection to Turkey.

Concept of hazard identification for RAMS specification

In parallel with the dynamic development of rail transport in terms of vehicle design, control systems, infrastructure issues, the development of processes and procedures in the area of safety management must also progress. This growing awareness was confirmed, among other things, by harmonising the content of the regulations on railway safety and interoperability, the safety certification of railway undertakings and the definition of the tasks and roles of national safety authorities. In effect, this was to enable the development of a single European railway area. An implementation tool that allows for a systematic approach to safety management processes and that enables the above requirements to be met is, among other things, RAMS analyses. A key step in the safety management process for specifying RAMS is hazard identification, which is particularly highlighted in PN EN 50126-2:2018 through the holistic model for risk assessment and control of railway system hazards (hourglass model). It places the hazard identification process in two stages, i.e. in the early development stage of the analysis (similar to other known risk management models) and in the hazard control stage. This positioning alone indicates the importance of the hazard identification process. On the comprehensiveness and detail of its implementation depends the validity of the final outcome of the RAMS analysis. The development of such a process for real technical facilities in a way that is consistent with the needs of RAMS analyses and, at the same time, ensures that satisfactory results of these analyses are achieved, has become the subject of this article.

Selected Sources of Research Funding in Railway Transport

In Horizon 2020, funding for research and innovation in the railway area was entirely channeled through the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (Shift2Rail). Shift2Rail was founded in 2014 as a Public-Private Partnership between the European Union (EU) and the rail industry and aimed to coordinate and manage EU research and investment in the rail sector. From the current financial perspective - Horizon Europe - the successor to Shift2Rail, is Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail). The new rail partnership aims to enable the European rail network to play a vital role in the Green Deal policy for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mobility. In 2017, the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) and PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PLK S.A.) established a Joint Undertaking, Research and Development of Railway Infrastructure, with the acronym BRIK. The program supports research and development (R&D) work in railway infrastructure and aims at increasing the Polish railway potential. The article provides a critical-cognitive analysis of selected joint R&D projects in the railway sector at both European and national levels. The activity of the Railway Research Institute (IK) in international and national projects is also presented. The article attempts to answer the research question: Are European and national programs supporting research in the railway area an appropriate and sufficient funding source? The research methods used included source material analysis, comparative approach, data analysis of the EU, Railway Research Institute, National Centre for Development Research (NCBR), and case study.

Diagnostics of the Deformation Resistance of the Track Bed in the Inter -Station Section Palárikovo - Nové Zámky - Track No. 1

Abstract The fundamental pillars of the emerging European integrated railway area include improving the safety of rail transport and the quality parameters of railway lines and ensuring their interoperability. As rail transport is one of the safest transport systems and the most environmentally friendly, the Slovak Railways (ŽSR) have developed strategic and investment plans to increase the competitiveness of rail transport in relation to other modes of transport. The current modernisation or reconstruction in the territory of the Slovak Republic focuses on the main railway lines that are part of significant European corridors (AGC, AGTC, TEN-T corridors). The inter-station section Palárikovo - Nové Zámky, the subject of the article, is a part of the European corridor No. IV, connecting Dresden with Arad and leading through the territory of the Slovak Republic. In this context, the article presents the analysis of the values of deformation characteristics on the reconstructed inter-station section Palárikovo - Nové Zámky, obtained verifying the quality of the implemented individual structural layers of the track bed.

Modeling The Generation And Attractiveness Of Passenger Demand Trips On The Madiun-Slahung Railway Reactivation Line

The reactivation plan of the Madiun-Slahung railway line in the National Railway Master Plan is the main program for the development of the railway network and service stage IV in 2026-2030, therefore it is necessary to conduct research on the demand for traction and generation as well as passenger interest in the future Madiun- This shelters are reactivated. Based on the results of data analysis and discussion of the calculation of the Madiun-Slahung area, it can be concluded that the model of the reactivation area of the Madiun-Slahung railway covers 7 districts, consisting of 45 sub-districts/villages. The method used is a household survey (Household Interview) which is intended to produce data on travel patterns and characteristics that affect the trip. The number of trip generation occurs in the range of numbers 6939-22594 motorbikes/hour for trip production and 1123-52265 motorbikes/hour for trip attraction, where zone 2, Kartoharjo sub-district has the largest number of trip production and zone 4, Ponorogo sub-district has the largest number of trip attractions. This is due to the high population, number of vehicle ownership and the strength of attraction due to the large number of shops and campuses and schools in the zone. The largest travel distribution value occurs in zone 4, because the zone is land use for shops, offices, campuses and schools.

Water Vapor Budget Features and Its Precipitation Effects over the Key Area of Sichuan-Tibet Railway in Summer

In this study, we investigate the variation of characteristics of summer precipitation with different magnitudes and the water vapor budget in different key areas of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway by using the daily precipitation data from meteorological stations and the monthly mean ERA-Interim reanalysis data from 1979 to 2018. The results show that the summer heavy precipitation anomaly in the Brahmaputra valley and mountain (BVM) area is generated by the multi-scale interactions between the unique topography and different water vapor transports at low latitudes. When an intense anticyclonic circulation occurs over the western Pacific and the South China Sea, there is also an anomalous anticyclonic circulation extending from the northern Indian Peninsula to the Bay of Bengal. This circulation pattern is conductive to the increase of the water vapor inflow from the southern boundary and the net water vapor budget in the BVM area. The strong southwesterly wind and water vapor convergence over this area thus leading to heavy precipitation in the summer. The summer heavy precipitation amount, frequency and intensity in the western parts of the steep terrain (ST) area on the east slope of the plateau are positively correlated with the water vapor inflow from its western boundary. However, the correlations of the water vapor budget to the summer heavy precipitation amount and frequency are opposite in the eastern parts of the ST area. The unique terrain and circulation patterns lead to the localization and diversity of heavy precipitation in the ST area.

The socio-economic importance of abandoned railway areas in the landscape of the Silesian Province (southern Poland)

Abstract The Province of Silesia, in Poland, is an area where many railway connections, of mostly local importance, have been closed recently. In some cities, they have been eliminated altogether and passenger rail transport has been replaced by bus transport. For this research, a sociological study was conducted using the diagnostic survey method and the questionnaire technique. A transversal testing strategy was also used. The aims of the study were to illustrate the function of abandoned railway areas in the landscape and to present possible recommendations for their development from the point of view of the needs of society. The research population included 1,685 people who were students at the University of the Third Age and adult residents. The surveys focused on the possibility of exploiting the natural potential of railway areas. The respondents’ answers provided suggestions for the development of unused railway areas, which included creating bicycle lanes, alleys with a high biodiversity of both flora and fauna, and walking tracks. The analysis of the study’s results can be useful to both local authorities and the Management of the Polish State Railways (PKP S.A.) in their decision-making processes concerning the revitalization of unused railway areas. Similar revitalization efforts have already been undertaken by various cities and communities.

A Background to a Methodology for Transport Mobile Applications Designing with a Focus on EU Interoperability

European rail transport policy aims to create a single railway area. European Union (EU) issues, for this purpose, sets of regulations and directives. Individual countries are involved in its implementation according to their capabilities. The aim of this article is to examine the current state of interoperability in the EU, especially in the Czech Republic, and to compare selected mobile applications regarding the possibility of unifying their design of mobile applications. A systematic literature research review methodology was used. The sources of information were mainly the scientific database Web of Science and the database of EU documents EUR-Lex. When examining one of the main parameters—the use of mobile networks—it was found that all of the selected applications use public mobile networks, none of them uses the Global System for Mobile Communications–Railway (GSM–R) network. This finding confirmed the theoretical assumption that this network is not currently ready for more or less massive operation of mobile applications. The possibility of using the next generation railway mobile network is open for discussion as one of the next steps to ensure interoperability in telematics applications.

Geotechnical and environmental radioactivity investigations at Al Sādis Min Uktōber city, Cairo municipality (Egypt), for the high-speed railway construction

The present study aims to evaluate the possibility of constructing a new high-speed railway (HSR) at Al Sādis Min Uktōber city, Cairo (Egypt): geotechnical and environmental radiological hazards are estimated from several collected soil and water samples. A variety of laboratory geotechnical tests such as grain size, free swelling test, liquid and plastic limits, chemical analysis and uniaxial compression strength are applied to sixty-one drill holes. A geotechnical examination of the coarse-grained soil at the foundation level classified it as poorly graded soil. The results of the investigation of fine-grained soil at the foundation level shown that the liquid limit ranges from 22% to 55%, the plastic limit ranges from 12% to 28%, the plasticity index varies from 11% to 33%, free swelling varies from 51% to 71%. Mechanically, the uniaxial compressive strength values on rock samples range from 6.96 MPa to 142.39 MPa. The radioactive study is performed to detect the 226Ra, 232Th, and 40 K activity concentrations of the soil samples: their mean values are 34 ± 10 Bq·kg−1, 14 ± 5 Bq·kg−1 and 552 ± 20 Bq·kg−1, respectively. The values of radiological hazard indexes are not exceeded the permissible limits: e.g. the mean value of absorbed dose rate is 47 ± 6 nGy h−1; the annual gonadal dose equivalent is 0.3 ± 0.04 mSv·y−1; the lifetime cancer risk is 02 ± 0.2·10−3. Thus, the soil in the studied railway area is safe to use in building materials and infrastructure applications: the radiological hazards and the geotechnical studies confirmed the studied area is suitable to construct a new community having a HSR. According to the SWOT-PEST and environmental impact analyses, the construction of the HSR meets the criteria of the Kyoto Protocol, the EU Climate and Energy policy, and other international treaties.

The potential of unused railway areas

Railway transportation faces many of the issues that are related to standard brownfields - due to changing technologies and industries, more effective systems (of traffic control in this case) and evolving needs many of the areas are actually no longer necessary for proper function of the railway. That is especially prominent in the case of railway stations, where a significant number of the stations use just a portion of their available tracks, buildings and areas (for example for unloading or repair). The remaining areas are sometimes sporadically used, but more effective and conscious management of the station could fairly easily lead up to the release of these areas for another, more useful function for both the city and the station. This paper will explore the differences between “standard” brownfields and unused railway areas like the typical ownership structure, particular location within the city and the effect station has on the city structure, composition and topography of the areas or the fact that railway areas are most often never really fully abandoned and they do continue to serve in some, albeit diminished capacity. Paper also aims to map out how much of the railways areas are underused or unused in Czech Republic (country with highest rail network density in the world). This paper will then recommend the best ways to use and revitalize them and it will show some successful examples of revitalization projects from all around the world.

Factors Affecting Plant Composition in Abandoned Railway Areas with Particular Emphasis on Forest Proximity

Abandoned railway areas are places for the spontaneous spread of plants and the formation of specific plant communities. However, only limited information on this subject is available in the literature. The study aimed to determine the direction and the rate of forest formation, taking into account selected environmental factors. A floristic, phytosociological, and soil survey was carried out on a set of abandoned railway lines in the Silesia Province (southern Poland). For this purpose, 30 plots of vegetation were selected: 15 located in the vicinity of forests (F) and 15 surrounded by ruderal or segetal communities (NF). As a result, a total of 132 species (121 vascular plants and 11 mosses) were recorded, including 83 species at F plots and 78 species at NF plots. During the research, 13 syntaxa were distinguished. It was found that silt content, nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3), pH, and phosphorous have a significant impact upon which species dominated in the surveyed areas. It was found that the proximity of the forest was a crucial factor in determining the development of forest communities on abandoned railway areas. These results can be helpful for understanding how environmental conditions shape the forest structure on these types of habitats.

Pendayagunaan Kawasan Bantaran Rel Kereta Api dan Jembatan Layang Untuk Sarana Publik Kota Medan

This research was conducted in the underpass of the flyover in the Ampera Medan road corridor. The purpose and objective is to provide scientific concepts related to the spatial arrangement under flyovers that are not currently well managed and tend to cause acts of vandalism in the space. The construction of flying cross-construction in several plot areas is generally a new open open space linearly. underneath. Thus the space under the flyover which was initially unproductive will become a point of interest for the surrounding environment. Furthermore, a well-organized space and area will certainly generate economic growth through the support of a well-planned and correct management system. Based on a spatial analysis that is adapted to the function of public space, good planning and management is needed to support and maintain the continuity of activities through creativity and interesting information for the public in public spaces under the Ampera Medan railway flyover. The arrangement of open areas located in flyover and railway areas often creates contradictions and social problems that are quite crucial, especially related to state-owned land ownership. The open space under the Ampera Medan road overpass is currently a lost area (unproductive land) and an act of vandalism that contains immoral messages. The arrangement of open spaces located on the railway underpass as a public space will provide a positive image for the area and become an attractive place for the city of Medan with the availability of jogging tracks as a sports venue, performance arena and social interaction space for the community

Competition on the Railway Market in a Segment of Public Service Obligations in Terms of Effectiveness: Study in V4 Countries

Since the introduction of new European Union legislation seeking to establish a single European railway area and increase the railway sector’s competitiveness, competition has also become a reality in this, until then, monopoly market. In addition to allowing open access to the railway market with freight and passenger services, competition in the regulated part of the market has been increasing, specifically in the segment of public passenger transport services. Public tendering for providing public services has increased the quality of services for passengers and contracting authorities; however, the question remains whether this model of awarding these services is also effective from a socioeconomic viewpoint. This study focused on evaluating contracting authorities of public services in the Visegrád-4 countries regarding public spending effectiveness. Based on the chosen model inputs and outputs related to performance and value indicators of public service contracts, we calculate individual contracting authorities’ relative effectiveness using nonparametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) models. We subsequently tested assumptions of the difference in effectiveness according to awarding services, individual countries or ownership of railway undertakings. We came to the conclusion that it is not possible to confirm that public tenders in V4 countries significantly increased the effectiveness of public spending in comparison with direct awards or other ways of awarding PSO. Discussions on the main results and research limitations are also part of this paper.

Development of a method for walking step observation based on large-scale GPS data

BackgroundWidespread use of smartphones has enabled the continuous monitoring of people’s movements and physical activity. Linking global positioning systems (GPS) data obtained via smartphone applications to physical activity data may allow for large-scale and retrospective evaluation of where and how much physical activity has increased or decreased due to environmental, social, or individual changes caused by policy interventions, disasters, and infectious disease outbreaks. However, little attention has been paid to the use of large-scale commercial GPS data for physical activity research due to limitations in data specifications, including limited personal attribute and physical activity information. Using GPS logs with step counts measured by a smartphone application, we developed a simple method for daily walking step estimation based on large-scale GPS data.MethodsThe samples of this study were users whose GPS logs were obtained in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, during October 2019 (37,460 users, 36,059,000 logs), and some logs included information on daily step counts (731 users, 450,307 logs). The relationship between land use exposure and daily step counts in the activity space was modeled using the small-scale GPS logs with daily step counts. Furthermore, we visualized the geographic distribution of estimated step counts using a large set of GPS logs with no step count information.ResultsThe estimated model showed positive relationships between visiting high-rise buildings, parks and public spaces, and railway areas and step counts, and negative relationships between low-rise buildings and factory areas and daily step counts. The estimated daily step counts tended to be higher in urban areas than in suburban areas. Decreased step counts were mitigated in areas close to train stations. In addition, a clear temporal drop in step counts was observed in the suburbs during heavy rainfall.ConclusionsThe relationship between land use exposure and step counts observed in this study was consistent with previous findings, suggesting that the assessment of walking steps based on large-scale GPS logs is feasible. The methodology of this study can contribute to future policy interventions and public health measures by enabling the retrospective and large-scale observation of physical activity by walking.