German Railway Research Articles

Investigation of Railway Network Capacity by Means of Dynamic Flows

Capacity calculations are essential for the long-term planning of railway infrastructure. Many of the methods currently used in practice calculate characteristic capacity values separately for the single elements (mainly lines and nodes) of a railway network. Approaches that consider the entire network to account for interactions between the elements often rely on many assumptions, which renders a direct practical application difficult. This paper therefore introduces a linear optimization model that comprises railway-specific constraints such as minimum headway times, line capacities, and route conflicts. Under the consideration of these constraints, the developed model permits the calculation of a network-wide capacity. The model is validated on a sample network that is based on a real network of the German railway infrastructure.

Radical timetable innovations in long-distance railway passenger transport: How might these affect railway passenger demand?

The positive impact of coordinated timetable innovations throughout national railway networks has been shown exemplarily in the 1970 s and 80 s, when so-called integrated periodic timetables (IPT) were installed in the Netherlands and in Switzerland and then gradually improved. After large-scale changes of the former train offer, rail passenger demand increased significantly. A similar timetable innovation was recently decided for the German railway network. However, the project’s impact on overall demand is uncertain. To approach this question, an elasticity-based forecast of long-distance passenger demand is proposed and adopted to a modelized railway network section that has changed to an IPT. Massive travel time reductions turned out as the most important factor for demand growth followed by demand effects due to the increase of train frequency and changes of a modelized ticket price system. Additional factors influencing nationwide rail passenger demand are conceivable but difficult to generalize.

Phrasal Proper Names in German and Norwegian

This paper discusses the morpho-syntax of phrasal proper names like Deutsche Bahn ‘German Railway’ and Norske Skog ‘Norwegian Forest’ in German and Norwegian. As regards determiner elements, there are three types of phrasal proper names in German: some proper names do not have a definite article, some do, and yet others exhibit a possessive. Depending on the syntactic context, the first two types pattern the same as regards the presence or absence of the article but contrast with the third, where the possessive is always present. It is proposed that proper names in German vary in their structure as regards the presence of the DP-level: unlike articles, possessives have a referential marker, and a DP is obligatorily projected with the latter element. Norwegian is different. While proper names in Norwegian also vary in the presence or absence of determiners, there is no flexibility—determiners are always present or always absent, independent of the syntactic context. It is proposed that unlike in German, the DP-level in Norwegian is always present. As argued by Roehrs (Glossa J Gen Linguist, 5(1):1–38, 2020, https://doi.org/10.5334/gjgl.1267), phrasal proper names involve a regular syntactic derivation. Given that elements of regular DPs are sensitive to definiteness in Norwegian, it is proposed that Norwegian proper names involve an obligatory definiteness feature. As this feature surfaces in the DP-level, the latter must be present in that language in all instances. Besides this cross-linguistic difference, we document that phrasal PN may show features of recursivity evidenced most clearly in Norwegian.

Static Modulus of Deformation of Uncemented Layers of the Railway Substructure—Comparison of Values and Determination of Correlation Dependence According to the Test Procedure of the Slovak Railways and Deutsche Bahn A.G.

The paper focuses on the analysis of the values of the static modulus of deformation obtained by the application of the test procedure specified in the methodology for the diagnostics of the sub-ballast layers used for German railways (DIN 18 134) and the Railways of the Slovak Republic (Regulation TS4). The purpose of the study was to determine the correlation between the measured values of the static modulus of deformation according to the above-mentioned methodologies based on a series of experimental measurements on an experimental field built at a scale of 1:1. It also aimed to develop a numerical model characterising the behaviour of the loaded environment during the experimental measurements using the finite element method, which can subsequently be used for the design of the structural composition of the sub-ballast layers. For the purpose of the experimental measurements, a sub-ballast layer of 0/31.5 mm crushed aggregate of different design thicknesses was applied to the sub-ballast layers. A polynomial dependence with a high value of the reliability coefficient can be found between the results of the static modulus of deformation obtained using the mentioned measurement methodologies during the quality inspection of the implemented construction works. This dependence is valid for the specific boundary conditions of the experimental measurements performed (subsoil of clay with gravel admixture and the sub-ballast crushed aggregate layer of 0/31.5 mm dolomitic gravel). In the future, establishing correlation dependencies for other boundary conditions and structural material compositions can be considered.

Herausforderung Verkehrsinfrastruktur

Abstract The transport infrastructure in Germany is clearly in need of improvement in many areas. In addition to the omnipresent criticism of the German railways, the focus is also on the infrastructure of motorways and roads. Unfortunately, due to the budget situation, prioritisation cannot be avoided. The Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport is currently trying to speed up planning, approval and implementation in the expansion of major transport routes. The challenge of making transport infrastructure fit for the future in light of the energy and transport transition is not just a short-term task for one budget year or one legislative period especially, for example, when thinking about the transition towards more e-mobility and autonomous driving.

Predicting interlocking malfunctions for the railway network in Germany

Interlockings generate a major part of all malfunctions on the German railway network infrastructure. Therefore, predictions of future malfunctions are essential to optimize the distribution of available maintenance and renewal funds. This work compares different regression methods to predict the number of malfunctions on individual interlockings. These methods are trained and tested on a data set provided by the German infrastructure manager ‘DB Netz AG’. Using the obtained models, the importance of available feature data to the prediction quality is analyzed.

Heat and Drought Induced Impacts on the German Railway Network

In view of the predicted climate change towards drier and hotter summers in Germany, heat- and drought-related disturbances in railway traffic are likely to increase in the next decades. This paper focuses on vegetation-related disturbances in the immediate vicinity of the German railway network, namely embankment fires and drought-induced tree falls. First, the spatiotemporal occurrence of the two processes is presented. Based on a Maximum Entropy model, a Germany-wide risk indication map for embankment fires along the rail network was developed. A GIS tool for determining tree fall risk is presented that incorporates the parameter tree vitality, allowing the detection of tree stands weakened due to adverse climate conditions. The maps and tools can help make the German rail network more resilient to heat- and drought-related disturbances and thus better adapted to climate change.

Vectron as an Example of a Modern and Versatile Electric and Diesel Locomotive for Passenger and Freight Transport

The Vectron locomotives are a Siemens proposal covering locomotives dedicated to both passenger and freight traffic, capable of operating under a wide range of supply voltages (multi-system, single-system, etc. versions are offered), on both normal and broad-gauge track. A diesel version was also designed for operation on non-electrified lines. The Vectron locomotives are a variant of the Eurosprinter ones, developed in the early 1990s and enriched by the operation experience acquired, both on the German or Austrian railway network and in other EU countries (acceptance to operate as part of the liberalization of the common market). To date, circa 1,500 Eurosprinter locomotives have been sold, primarily in Europe and also in the USA, where they are operated in moderate climate, and both the Mediterranean one and the cold Scandinavian winters. Keywords: electric locomotives, multisystem voltage locomotives, Vectron, Siemens

Longitudinal study of SARS-CoV-2 infections in different employee groups of long distance train services from June 2020 until February 2021 in Germany.

Abstract This prospective longitudinal epidemiological study was aimed at investigating the occupational SARS-CoV-2 infection risk of long distance train services in Germany. Three different employee groups (train attendants, train drivers and maintenance workers) within the workforce of the German railway carrier Deutsche Bahn Fernverkehr AG were studied based on their contact frequency with passengers and colleagues. Approximately 1100 employees were tested by PCR for acute infections and by antibody detection for past infections in June 2020, October 2020 and February 2021. Cumulative incidence (acute and past infections) after the third (final) test series in February 2021 was 8.5% (95% interval CI 6.8–10.4): 8.5% (95% CI 6.2–11.2) for train attendants, 5.5% (95% CI 2.9–9.5) for train drivers and 11.8% (95% CI 7.6–17.2) for maintenance workers. Between June 2020 and October 2020, the incidence was 1.2% (95% CI 0.6–2.3): 1.2% (95% CI 0.4–2.7) for train attendants, 1.1% (95% CI 0.1–3.9) for train drivers and 1.4% (95% CI 0.17–5.10) for maintenance workers. Between October 2020 and February 2021, it was 5.1% (95% CI 3.6–6.8): 5.2% (95% CI 3.3–7.8) for train attendants, 1.6% (95% CI 0.3–4.5) for train drivers and 8.8% (95% CI 4.9–14.3) for maintenance workers. Thus, contrary to expectation our exploratory data did not show train attendants to be at the highest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections among the employee groups. In line with expectations, train drivers, representing the low contact group, seemed at lowest occupational risk.

Resilience of Railway Transport to Four Types of Natural Hazards: An Analysis of Daily Train Volumes

A crucial step in measuring the resilience of railway infrastructure is to quantify the extent of its vulnerability to natural hazards. In this paper, we analyze the vulnerability of the German railway network to four types of natural hazards that regularly cause disruptions in German rail operations: floods, mass movements, slope fires, and tree falls. Using daily train traffic data matched with various data on disruptive events, we quantify the extent to which these four types of natural hazard reduce daily train traffic volumes. With a negative binomial count data regression, we find evidence that the track segments of the German railway network are most vulnerable to floods, followed by mass movements and tree-fall events. On average, floods reduce traffic on track segments by 19% of the average daily train traffic, mass movements by 16%, and tree fall by 4%. Moreover, when more than one type of natural hazard affects the track segment on the same day, train traffic on that segment falls by 34% of the average train traffic. Slope fires have an ambiguous and nonrobust effect on train traffic due to the reverse causality due to its triggering factors. This is the first study that attempts to rank different natural hazards according to their impact on railway traffic. The results have implications for the selection of resilience strategy and can help prioritize policy measures.

The naturalisation of nineteenth-century German Railways as depicted in visual discourse

Despite the dramatic effect of the railway age on the natural surroundings, it was not seen necessarily as destructive to nature. Railways were both the epitome of progress as well as integral features in pastoral landscapes. This seemingly paradoxical perception of railways is partially explained by historicising the “naturalisation” of the German train system. This article describes the rapid transformation of the German train from a symbol of dynamic industrialisation to an integral part of the landscape. Visual images, such as lithographs and postcards, were the catalysts in this process. Railway companies, local elites and travel guide publishers promoted the process of “naturalisation” for economic reasons, but the iconography was a result of visual discourse in nineteenth-century German culture. This paper shows that unlike American, British and French depictions of railways, German artists portrayed a railway system, which rather than conquering nature, was blending peacefully into an existing natural landscape.

Infrastructure Design for the People: Focus on the User – Exemplified by the Kienlesberg Bridge, Ulm

In the realm of bridge construction, outstanding results that convince both engineering specialists as well as the general public are mostly the outcome of intense cooperation between clients, structural engineers and often architects. Particularly in the field of densely populated areas such as inner cities, urban planners as well as future users must be involved in the decision-making process. Kienlesberg Bridge is a successful example of this, from competition to commissioning. The multi-award-winning bridge for trams, pedestrians and cyclists crosses a broad rail area of Deutsche Bahn (German railway) at Ulm's central railway station. After a competition announcement in 2011, the bridge was developed in close cooperation between architects and structural engineers and built parallel to an underlying Deutsche Bahn construction site leading to its inauguration in 2018. The competition design already referred directly to the urban development situation. The elegant wave form results naturally from the interplay between the alignment, the force flow and the severe limits on possible pillar positions due to the complex construction site. In addition to its crossing function, the bridge offers a high quality of user environment thanks to its materials, lighting and equipment concepts. This creates a new urban space in inhospitable surroundings.

Maintenance of Low-Intensity Railways in Modern Conditions

The article is devoted to clarification of the structure of maintenance of low-intensity railways by optimising infrastructure maintenance operational personnel using the example of Mikunsky infrastructure section of the Northern Infrastructure Directorate of Russian Railways. As an example of the distance for operation of infrastructure, the article considers Berlin section of infrastructure of German railways. The task of organising the activities of the infrastructure linear enterprise of the track complex, including track section workers (PC), signalling, centralisation and blocking (SCB) maintenance section personnel working within enlarged teams and emergency repairs teams equipped with service trains and KamAZ vehicles, is considered. For the analysis of information uncertainty, an information model is proposed, for which the risk is considered in the form of determining losses. At the stage of preliminary calculations, a change in the number of maintenance personnel will make it possible to obtain a reduction in operating costs.

The Noise Level Analysis of Hybrid of Passenger-Freight Railway based on On-line Automatic Monitoring System

A large amount of data is accumulated from the German railway noise on-line monitoring system, which is online for the first time since 2019. In this paper, the monitoring system is introduced simply. By collating and analysing the monitoring data of the last year, overall noise level of current hybrid of passenger-freight railway in Germany and noise level of each measuring station is given for the first time respectively. Finally it is pointed out that the flow of freight is the key factor affecting the noise level of each station. It provides a basis for the follow-up research on the optimization of train traffic volume based on noise level.

Measurements of Structure Gauge Limits on German Railways

Knowledge of the gauge limits on operating railway lines is essential for safe railway traffic, as defined by the train time-table. The article presents, from a historical perspective, the development of diagnostic measurements. The first designs of measuring vehicles, which systematically reduced the time for diagnosing railway lines, including tunnels, are also presented here. The engineering and technology progress allowed the development of new surveying methods, successively implemented by upgrading diagnostic vehicles. Such measures simultaneously affected the quality of measurements, allowed measurements to be taken at increasing speeds, as well as to automatically create a gauge limit database on the DB AG network. This data is used, inter alia, for the codification of railway lines for the purposes of intermodal transport and special shipments. Keywords: rail transport, DB AG railways, structure gauge, measuring wagons

Porter's Five Forces in the German railway industry

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to investigate the profitability potential of the German railway industry. The investigation is based on a further developed Five Forces Framework of Michael E. Porter, considering different former empirical expansion proposals. In this paper, the German railway industry shall be represented by train manufacturers with production sites in Germany. The qualitative research method was chosen to evaluate the power of each of the framework forces. The consolidation of all forces determines the level of industry profitability. The adapted Five Forces Framework includes governmental interventions and the support by complementary goods as two additional forces. An operationalization method presented in this paper can be used by framework users to assess an industry's profitability. By operationalizing all framework forces, this paper leads to an indication about the profitability level of the German railway industry. The application of the adapted framework revealed a low profitability level. Porter's Five Forces Framework has been applied to several industries and even to railway related topics, but not yet to German railway manufacturing industry. To our knowledge, neither a validation nor implementation of different framework expansions combined with an application to the German railway industry has yet been published in any research report.

“German railways” in China: Technology as a site of knowledge

In this article, I test how the concept of sites of knowledge – originally developed by Christian Jacob for scholarly work – can be applied to technologies. I analyse how acquisition, transmission and transformation of knowledge work in the construction and use of technologies. The two railway lines built with German participation in China at the turn from the nineteenth to the twentieth century, the Shandong Railway and the Tianjin-Pukou Railway, are taken as an example. By investigating what knowledge for building and operating the railroad as a whole and the trains as a part of it was needed and available and how it relates to space, I demonstrate how technical and non-technical knowledge interact in the practices of the actively involved and passively affected individuals. The article thereby examines the complexity of different forms of knowledge necessary for a site of knowledge to take shape and to exist in relation to its surrounding.

Time‐optimized assembly of bridge bearings: Force‐fit gap compensation of steel‐connections with metal‐polymers

The time factor plays one of the major roles in today's steel building. Particularly in the field of traffic infrastructure operational interruptions caused by assembly or repair work cause financial and economic trouble.New solutions for repair and assembly aimed at reducing costs and time are therefore in great demand, whether in the form of new materials or innovative application methods. A novel gap compensation material based on high strength polymers developed in Germany reduces time and cost in steel construction and assembly. The material works as a “liquid shim plate” and joins steel elements with a 100% force and form fit connection. The product can be applied in situ without machining or disassembly flexibility and safety for construction and maintenance works.The “liquid shim material” DIAMANT MM1018 is the first of its kind to be awarded the general building authority approval (abZ) by the German Institute of Building Technology (DIBt) [1] and approved by German railways (Deutsche Bahn) through intern regulation.

Efficient Railway Crew Scheduling in German Regional Passenger Transport

SINCE THE GERMAN RAILWAY REFORM IN 1996, federal states and transport associations are responsible for regional rail passenger transport. Usually, transport associations determine lines and timetab...

Short- and Long-Term Effects of Nonconsciously Processed Ambient Scents in a Servicescape: Findings From Two Field Experiments

Ambient scents are being increasingly used in different service environments. While there is emerging research on the effects of scents, almost nothing is known about the long-term effects of consumers’ repeated exposure to ambient scents in a service environment as prior studies on ambient scents have been lab or field studies examining short-term effects of scent exposure only. Addressing this limitation, we examine the short- and long-term effects of ambient scents. Specifically, we present a conceptual framework for the short- and long-term effects of nonconsciously processed ambient scent in olfactory-rich servicescapes. We empirically test this framework with the help of two large-scale field experiments, conducted in collaboration with a major German railway company, in which consumers were exposed to a pleasant, nonconsciously processed scent. The first experiment demonstrates ambient scent’s positive short-term effects on consumers’ service perceptions. The second experiment—a longitudinal study conducted over a 4-month period—examines scent’s long-term effects on consumers’ reactions and demonstrates that the effects persist even when the scent has been removed from the servicescape.