Freight Station Research Articles

Forecasting material flows of modern logistics centres of railway freight stations exemplifi ed by Xi’an (the People’s Republic of China)

The purpose of the study is to create a more accurate material fl ow forecasting model of Xi’an freight railway station in China. The combined forecasting model is more validated for forecasting freight flows of regional logistics compared to three methods: grey forecasting, Markov chains, entropy weighting. Through the creation of the combined model, the grey forecasting method is combined with Markov chain correction, and the projected data is compared with the actual data to obtain higher accuracy of the forecasting model. A combined model using the grey forecasting method combined with Markov chain correction is created, with the forecast data compared with the actual data to obtain high accuracy of the forecasting model. The practical significance is that in the context of the present post-pandemic economic development, the logistics enterprises that do not operate in accordance with the modern logistics methods may be displaced by competitors. If the railway does not improve its logistics infrastructure, logistics equipment, railway logistics network platform, etc., it will lose out to other modes of transport. In order to meet the needs of logistics and improve the market competitiveness, the main indicator of a freight station is loading and logistics flow. Therefore, exact prediction of future changes in the logistics flow of a freight station can help to determine whether the station needs to be upgraded as a railway station or transformed into a certain type of a logistics centre.

Design of railway simulation training system based on WebGL

Abstract In order to solve the problems of poor interaction with students and insufficient practicality in the previous railway freight station operation training, this article developed a training system based on WebGL technology that can interact with students and truly display the operation situation of the freight yard. This system is based on the Unity3D engine and WebGL technology. It imports 3D models to build large map scenes, and introduces functions such as cargo bundling and map roaming. The complete designed system is published to the Web through WebGL technology. After experimental analysis, the parking lot training system has solved the problems of poor practicality, little interaction, low efficiency, and narrow coverage in previous teaching. It has promoted the standardization and standardization of training students’ future work, and has effectively improved the professionalism of parking lot managers.

IDENTIFICATION OF OPERATING MODES OF THE DEFROSTING GARAGE OF THE LOAD STATION OF THE INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE IN DYNAMIC CONDITIONS

Purpose. At the current stage of operation of the defrosting garages of the freight station of the industrial enterprise, the defrosting of wagons with bulk raw materials takes place in conditions of a changing environment, which leads to low efficiency of the interaction of railway transport and the unloading complex. To solve this problem, it is necessary to identify the modes of operation of the defrosting garages of the cargo station of the industrial enterprise in dynamic conditions, to analyze the consumption of natural gas for defrosting. Research methods. The following methods were used during the research: synthesis and analysis for the study of the issue and scientific publications regarding the state and ways of identifying the modes of operation of the defrosting garages of the cargo station of the industrial enterprise; experiment planning - to obtain a multidimensional, diverse array of statistical data; theory of probability and mathematical statistics - for data processing, obtaining correlation dependences of indicators of identification of modes of operation of defrosting garages of a cargo station of an industrial enterprise in dynamic conditions. The results. The work is devoted to the solution of the scientific and technical problem of identifying the operating modes of the defrosting garages of the cargo station of the industrial enterprise in the conditions of a changing environment. The work evaluates the modes of operation of the defrosting garages of the cargo station of the industrial enterprise when defrosting bulk raw materials.The influence of external factors on the consumption of natural gas during defrosting of bulk raw materials in wagons was evaluated. On the basis of research conducted in the process of defrosting bulk raw materials in wagons, two temperature modes of operation of garages were identified, which determine different gas consumption. Basic, regulatory mode with a constant defrosting temperature set by technological standards and maximum gas consumption. Periodic, with reduced gas consumption, is characterized by a decrease in temperature after 6-7 hours and subsequent defrosting using accumulated heat, which ensures a decrease in gas consumption. The possibility and expediency of wide practical use of accumulated heat in the process of defrosting bulk raw materials in wagons has been established. The temperature and time parameters of the process of defrosting bulk raw materials in wagons using accumulated heat are proposed, which ensures a significant reduction in energy consumption. Increasing the efficiency of the defrosting garages of the freight station of the industrial enterprise was achieved on the basis of the development of a method and model of natural gas consumption when defrosting bulk raw materials in wagons using accumulated heat. The scientific novelty consists in the identification of the operating modes of the defrosting garages of the cargo station of the industrial enterprise in the conditions of a changing environment, which is based on a multidimensional, diverse array of experimental data. Practical significance.The presented theoretical provisions regarding the modes of operation of the defrosting garages of the freight station of the industrial enterprise made it possible to develop a method and model of natural gas consumption during defrosting of bulk raw materials in wagons using accumulated heat.

Analysis of Constraints against Efficiency of Seaport-hinterland Logistics in Nigeria

Having realized that most Nigerian seaports are congested and the problem of moving goods have been difficult, the Federal Government through Bureau of Public Enterprises and Nigerian Shippers’ Council were mandated to identify Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and Container Freight Stations (CFSs) across the country with connectivity to rail transport. Since 2004 to date, these have mostly not been functioning. This paper therefore examined the constraints and possible factors responsible. The Nigerian Ports Authority, Road Haulage Association, Terminal Operators, selected Shipping companies were used as respondents. 34.1% (253) from the population of 743 respondents were sampled with the use of Cochran formula and stratified random sampling technique. Shaphiro Test and multiple regression were used to analyze the constraints against the use of ICDs and CFSs. Principal Component Analysis was used to extract the major factors hindering port-hinterland logistics in Nigeria. It was observed that 50% of general logistics constraints emanated from lack of efficient rail system, enforcement and finance combined. Extracted causative factors against port-hinterland movements of goods are: inadequate terminal capacity, parking and inadequacy of cargo handling facilities. The research concluded that both general constraints and causative factors are to be looked into with stringent policy enforcement.

Optimization design of railroad freight station computer inquiry system based on robot intelligent configuration system

In recent years, China’s railroads have been rapidly developed, but to improve the quality of service to customers and the rapid passage of passengers is a major problem facing the railroad operation. It is the era of information development at present, China’s railroad operation has also been unprecedented rapidly developed and has significant achievements. In order to meet the growing demand and improve the level of information technology, the information system platform for railroad freight transportation has been created, because each system is not connected with each other and is independent of each other, thus creating an upgrade of the system. To solve the above-mentioned problems, it is necessary first of all to establish an intelligent freight station inquiry system, which is one of the ways for the customers to experience the convenience directly. In this paper, by understanding and analyzing the inquiry system of freight stations, we address the shortcomings and deficiencies of the system now. Using the development concept of information technology and the general development goals of Chinese railroad passenger and freight stations, the development has been carried out through the two levels of the total structure and performance of the system. Current successful modifications and enhancements of the Chinese train transportation system show promising experimental results. It has been confirmed by these tests that the system demonstrates a high level of stability and dependability while skillfully meeting the intelligent inquiry needs of travelers at railroad freight stations.

Rescue of the Material Recycler: A Case Study on the ‘End-of-Life Tyres’

Tinna Rubber and Infrastructure Limited (TRIL) is India’s largest integrated material recycler of end-of-life tyres (ELT). It imported 70% scrap to feedstock in its manufacturing plants. The nationwide lockdown declared on 24 March 2020 posed severe initial restrictions on the movement of non-essential cargo. It affected TRIL’s 265 containers lodged at different ports in the country, thus escalating their demurrage/detention charges and storage costs. This case concerns supply chain problems faced by Shanti Swarup, TRIL Head–Procurement, owing to COVID-19 disruption. The situation was severe enough to wipe out TRIL’s annual cash profit and put its factories at risk of running out of feedstock. Scrap importers, like TRIL, were in a deadlock with shipping lines and freight stations to waive any imposed charges or avail of any monetary relief despite regular guidelines issued by the Indian government. However, Swarup’s existing and effective ‘supply chain resilience’ strategies had already made TRIL win half the battle by adopting a different approach to the deadlock problem, which relieved the situation. The case study also highlights typical risks and challenges faced by the Indian ELT recycling industry.

Analysis of Initial Design Parameters Affecting the Capacity of Shortened Tracks of the Marshalling Yard of a Freight Station

The article analyzes one of the current methods of determining the necessary track development of the marshalling yard of a freight station. Special attention is paid to the issue of identifying the initial design parameters that have a significant impact on the required number of shortened marshalling tracks. The complex multivariant task of determining the capacity of track development requires specification of the solution of some issues of this aspect.

Enhancement of local traffic management systems using information technology

In the article the analysis and researches on optimization of the process of transfer and assembly of local wagons at freight stations in railway transport are carried out. In particular, on the basis of the results of the work a structural scheme for effective organization of the wagon flow has been carried out to optimize the work on formatting of multi-group trains serving intermediate stations located on the railroad site at technical stations, to improve the technologies of transfer and withdrawal of wagons to intermediate stations. Chukursay sorting station under the jurisdiction of “Uzbekistan Railways” JSC and intermediate stations (mainly located on the southern line), where the formation of multi-group trains from the sorting station is planned, were selected as the object of research. Has been researched proportion of staying local wagon-flows over-standard at stations and railroad haul. According to it, the highest number of stays is in the proportion of technical stations (42% in relation to total stays) and intermediate stations (31% in relation to total stays). A target function has been developed to transfer local wagon flows to and from intermediate stations. In order to solve the problems, a program for determining the layout scheme of wagons in the composition of the train has been developed and proposals for its introduction into practice have been made.

Effective organization of acceleration of local train movement at railway transport departments

In the mentioned article, an analysis was conducted on the delay in providing services to local wagons due to the distance of up to 200 km between the sections located in the “UTY” joint-stock company. In this regard, works to improve the schedule of local trains have been carried out by extending the distance between two technical stations to 600-800 km. As a result of analyzing the options for transporting local wagons to technical stations in this article, movement schemes for local trains have been developed. The proposed schemes specify the movement of local trains from the initial station to the final station within the sections, as well as determining the movement from the initial station to halfway through the section. Through these schemes, operations carried out at intermediate and freight stations between two section stations in a mathematical manner have been investigated. These operations include operations such as coupling, uncoupling, and providing technical and cargo services to the wagons within the movement composition. In providing services to local trains on the section, two options were analyzed to obtain results: with the help of the second scheme we developed, during the movement of each train within the section, a possibility of saving 16 minutes of time was created.

Evaluation Methodology of the Railway Stations Using the AHP Method in the Transport Hubs from the Freight Transport Point of View

Currently, it is necessary to support not only public passenger transport at the expense of individual car transport but also to ensure the modal split of goods from road transport to railway transport. Moreover, it is important to modernize the railway infrastructure, especially hubs and other important railway stations in important settlements and big cities. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly invest in railway lines as well as railway stations. The contribution deals with the determination of the methodology for the evaluation of railway stations in freight transport based on current scientific publications and the AHP method. Its main goal is to determine the size of the peak on the network-railway station on the infrastructure manager’s railway network. One of the benefits is the subsequent determination of the next procedure from the given peak in terms of operation, considering the economic complexity of the entire procedure. The methodology is preceded by an extensive analysis of input data in Slovakia and abroad. This methodology defines the parameters or factors that influence decisions for a particular railway freight station. Subsequently, based on the proposed methodology, a practical application is also developed, within which four railway stations on the ŽSR network are evaluated. In a broader sense, the contribution also points to improving the quality of railway infrastructure in cities.

Advanced golden jackal optimization for solving the constrained integer stochastic optimization problems

Constrained integer stochastic optimization problems (CISOP) are optimization problems where the cost function is stochastic and the constraints are deterministic. Solving the CISOP using conventional optimization techniques is time-consuming when the design space is huge. Ordinal optimization offers an efficient technique suitable for solving the CISOP. In this paper, an approach that uses golden jackal optimization assisted by ordinal optimization (GJOO) is developed for resolving the CISOP in a relatively short time. The GJOO is composed of three phases: metamodel, global search, and ranking and selection. At first, the polynomial chaos expansion is used as a metamodel to rapidly assess a solution. Next, advanced golden jackal optimization is adopted to determine N excellent solutions from the entire design space. At last, the modified optimal computing budget allocation is adopted to determine a distinguished solution from the N excellent solutions. The GJOO is utilized to the shipping/receiving docks optimization problem of a container freight station in air cargo. The performances of the GJOO are compared with those of five meta-heuristic methods. Empirical results demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the GJOO algorithm.

Multi-period empty container repositioning approach for multimodal transportation

Due to the trade imbalance and poor management, a large number of empty containers are piled up after unpacking in importing regions, while the export-oriented areas are in urgent need of empty containers for replenishment. This paper aims to determine the volume of empty containers transferred from the surplus area to the shortage area and the inventory of each node from the operational level. We subdivide container freight stations into rail stations and road stations and consider using sea, road, and railway as transportation modes to transfer empty containers. A multi-period linear programing model of multimodal empty container repositioning is established aiming at minimizing the cost of empty container repositioning. A real case study of the transportation network in Northeast China is conducted to demonstrate that using multiple modes of transportation can significantly reduce the cost of empty container repositioning compared to using a single mode of transportation.

Optimization of real-time dynamic cargo stowage at highway freight stations

Optimization of real-time dynamic cargo stowage at highway freight stations

Optimization of track distribution of industrial railway stations between car designations

Purpose. To improve the method for distributing the tracks of industrial railway stations for the accumulation of car groups between separate assignments. The optimization problem is to find such a distribution of classification work between the industrial marshalling yard and freight stations, as well as such a distribution of marshalling yard tracks between individual destinations, which ensures the minimum time expenditures on shunting work. Methodology. The studies were carried out using the methods of the theory of railway operation, simulation modeling and dynamic programming. Findings. The optimization problem of distribution of sorting work between the marshalling yard and freight stations of an industrial enterprise, as well as searching for such a distribution of marshalling yard tracks between individual destinations, which ensures the minimum time expenditures for shunting work, has been solved. Originality. The paper proposes a method for formalizing and solving the problem of distributing the tracks of industrial railway stations for the accumulation of car groups between individual destinations as a dynamic programming problem. Unlike the existing methods, where the number of tracks is considered as a constraint, in the proposed method, the number of tracks is an objective function argument of minimizing the duration of shunting operations, which improves the quality of the solutions obtained. Practical value. The method proposed in the paper, due to the rational distribution of the existing track arrangement of railway stations, makes it possible to reduce the time expenditures on the making- and breaking-up the trains and shunting transfers and, due to this, increase the carrying capacity of the stations, as well as reduce the cost of production of enterprises.

Analysis of operation modes of shunting diesel locomotives when performing shunting work

An overview of modern trends in updating shunting locomotives, which are based on the installation of on-board energy storage devices, multi-diesel propulsion power plants, and power plants operated on hydrogen energy sources, was carried out. The necessity to take into account the operating conditions of a shunting diesel locomotive when choosing an upgrade option is shown. The operation modes of shunting diesel locomotives during shunting operations at the Козятин-I freight station during three shifts were considered. By analyzing the data of the БІС-Р onboard system and processing the route sheets, the parameters of the operating modes were determined. Calculations of diesel engine power utilization indicators were performed, according to which it was determined that the full use of the installed diesel generator power is 7.5...8.4%, and the maximum diesel power recorded under the studied operating conditions is about 50%. The duration of work with traction loads is 49.5...68.8% of the shift time. The longest - 55...60% of the total duration of work under traction - are modes with a power of 0...50 kW. The duration of work without load is 18.1...36.9% of the duration of the shift. The shunting work performed is related to the formation and disassembly of trains, including the use of a sorting slide, as a result of which the traction power transmission operates with a low efficiency. In order to reduce the consumption of fuel and energy resources when performing shunting work, it is necessary to update the fleet of locomotives for shunting work, the characteristics of which are adapted to the operating modes. Key words: hybrid locomotive, modernization, shunting, energy efficiency, energy storage

Accessibility analysis in spatial planning: A case of special economic zones (SEZs) in Campania, Southern Italy

The strategic role of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) at the Italian level has also been underlined by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which has provided an important economic endowment to relaunch the national economy, in general, and the Campania region territorial economy, in particular. Literature and best practices clearly show that many factors determine the success of a SEZ, with transport accessibility being one of the key factors. This study performs a transport accessibility analysis both at national and first/last-leg levels, by comparing the accessibility of the Campania SEZ areas, the other SEZ areas in Italy and all the other Italian local labour systems. The study focuses on the Campania region, as it represents the first Italian pilot project of spatial planning through the establishment of SEZs. The Campania region exhibits, on average, good transport accessibility both at a national level (considering the multi-modal freight Italian transport network) and at a first/last-leg level (considering relevant nodes of the network, such as tollbooths, freight stations, ports, interports and airports). Also, the impact of SEZ implementation on land use planning has been discussed, to provide a useful tool for stakeholders that are interested in revitalizing the area, at different levels: i) land use policymakers, to plan interventions/planning concerning infrastructures and spatial planning; ii) national policymakers, to establish SEZs in other geographical areas; iii) investors, to assess the convenience of investments in this geographical area.

The impact of using the added value from the point of view of freight forwarders and the Inland Freight Station to operate the Egyptian dry ports

The impact of using the added value from the point of view of freight forwarders and the Inland Freight Station to operate the Egyptian dry ports

Assessing carbon emissions reduction by incorporating automated monitoring system during transit: a case study

The green concept in operations is becoming an inevitable part of global maritime logistics activities and has an important influence on the improvement of efficiency and environmental performance. This paper aims to assess the continuous monitoring and tracking of container shipments at the ports in order to reduce carbon emissions thus improving environmental performance. In this research, near real-time RFID data tracing and tracking container cargo are shared by the automated monitoring system. The collected data gathered via digitalization is further analyzed to ensure a greener maritime logistics system. The significant findings of the study for the literature show that the actual fuel consumption is reduced when automated monitoring systems are used at the ports (Ports and CFS (Container freight station)). The reduced fuel consumption during the transit between the ports and CFS has resulted in a reduction in carbon emissions of environmental performance. The results show a 6 % reduction in emissions from port to CFS and 23% from CFS to ports. Thus, effective practices in Green Logistics are considered to be beneficial for carbon emissions. These findings contribute to the understanding and development of effective strategies for logistic operations using technologies to create a green performance. The study was performed in a certain set of environmental dimensions and the results may vary depending on the organization, which can be studied further in future research.

A Study on Port (Terminals) Operational Efficiency Analysis Using PCA-DEA Approach: Focusing on Container Terminals on Busan Port

Previous literature has recognised the importance of port efficiency to port performance, and two popular methodologies of DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) and SFA (Stochastic Frontier Analysis) have been widely applied to efficiency evaluation. However, there seems a limitation of lacking objectivity when selecting the variables of inputs and outputs. Meanwhile, as for the largest port in Korea, although many related efficiency studies already exist for Busan Port, most of them are founded on a whole port level basis while seldom on the container terminal level. Therefore, to fill the gap, this paper introduces a PCA (Principal Component Analysis) - DEA approach to research the operational efficiency of nine container terminals of Busan Port with the latest data of 2021. The PCA-DEA port (terminal) evaluation approach is practical and unbiased, and it may have some special practical value for the port industry. Container throughput is set as the output, and 13 variables from three scopes of land, facilities and labour are identified as inputs, followed by PCA which eventually detects three indictors of “No. transfer crane (RMGC) in yard”, “Staff average salary” and “Container freight station (CFS) space” as the core inputs representing the above three dimensions. Then, the DEA (CCR) and DEA (BCC) models are used to gain the assessment results: “PNIT, “PNC” and “HJNC” are DEA efficiency, while others of “HPNT”, “BNCT”, “Jaseongdae”, “Shinseondae”, “Gamman” and “Shin Gamman” are non-DEA efficiency. In addition, to achieve the target efficiency for the non-effective terminals, this paper confirms improvements through Return to Scale (ROS) and input redundancy discussion. This study objectively evaluates port terminals and provides useful data when establishing strategies to strengthen port efficiency and competitiveness in the future.

Раціоналізація спільної роботи залізничних станцій у вузлі

In this work the variants of rational technology for the redistribution of the sorting and shunting work between sorting and freight stations in the formation of the gear trains, taking into account possible detailed the selection of individual groups of cars for specific cargo fronts .This gives the possibility of optimal use of screening devices and shunting locomotives as sorting and freight stations, as well as the reduction of the length of time of local cars during the execution of the basic technological operations in the railway node. The studies of the structure of volumes with the processing of coming to the sorting stations, it was found that of the total local traffic volume ranges from 7% to 12% and the accumulation time of trains gear trains – up to 8 hours or more. Given that the time for the completion of the formation of these compounds through an slide in the rail yard for much less than freight (depending on the number of groups of wagons ) and that the cost of recycling of one car on the yard and station at 5 – 6 times less than the cargo, was asked to undertake the completion of the formation to the exactions of railway freight fronts in the rail yard, especially at this time when the reduction in the total amount of work sorting slides have sufficient reserve processing capacity. The dependences for determining the number of groups of wagons with defined assignment freight station in trains transfer trains, as well as finding the average number of uncoupling , which determines the amount of shunting work on the exhaust paths.