Rail Link Research Articles

Impact Evaluation Adoption Towards Coastal Communities with Ongoing East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) in Terengganu

Objective: This article focuses on ongoing ECRL development challenges in Terengganu, Malaysia, by adapting the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG) impact evaluation framework, which can serve as a tool for policy intervention in reducing inequality and promoting partnership. Theoretical Framework: The role of the state theory, as applied to explain the initiative launched through state coordination, requires a multistakeholder approach or structuration process in order to assess the impact on the beneficiary's sustainability. Method: The methodology adopted for this research has included in-depth interviews, observations, and site-visit approaches with local people and authoritative informants, and is heavily supported by desk research. Results and Discussion: The result shows that local coastal communities of several towns in Setiu, Terengganu, are positively accepting of this ECRL development. Nevertheless, collaboration and further information are also needed to make themselves compatible with socioeconomic changes. Research Implications: The critical APPGM-SDG mechanism, based on its success story in terms prior impact evaluation, should be embraced in assessing ongoing ECRL and its development through government-to-government partnerships. Originality/Value: This study led to the three imperatives recommendations on the academic context of the development corpus, advocacy, and policy moral deliverables.

Airport Express Passenger Flow Prediction Based on “Time-Feature” Cooperative Attention

Accurate prediction of airport express passenger flow is the basis for realizing intelligent, refined and efficient management and control of the airport rail transit system, and is of great significance to improving airport service levels and operational efficiency. Due to the numerous influencing factors that overlap with each other, and the complex mechanism of factors affecting passenger flow timing, accurate prediction of airport express passenger flow is extremely challenging. This paper proposes an airport express rail passenger flow prediction model based on the "time-feature" collaborative attention mechanism, which achieves accurate capture of the impact of multi-dimensional factors on airport express rail passenger flow in different time series. Experiments were conducted based on actual passenger flow data of the Beijing Capital International Airport Express Rail Link, and the results showed the effectiveness of the proposed method.

The Economic Impact of High-Speed Rail Development in the Pearl River Delta: A Case Study of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link

The rapid expansion of high-speed rail (HSR) has become a crucial element of infrastructure, markedly improving regional connectivity and economic integration. This study centers on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL), a pivotal project that connects major cities within the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and links Hong Kong to mainland China. The analysis demonstrates that while the XRL has stimulated economic growth by facilitating inter-regional exchanges, it has also presented challenges to local vulnerable sectors, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These challenges stem from heightened competition due to industrial agglomeration. To mitigate these effects, the study proposes enhancing regional economic cooperation by establishing specialized economic zones and developing cross-border trade networks. These strategies aim to capitalize on the benefits of the XRL while enabling SMEs to access new markets and boost their competitiveness. The research underscores the importance of strategically leveraging infrastructure projects like the XRL to promote sustainable economic growth, offering a framework for addressing potential drawbacks.

The Relationship of Total Quality Management Practices and Project Performance with Risk Management as Mediator: A Study of East Coast Rail Link Project in Malaysia

The study’s main aim is to investigate the relationship between the influence of effective risk management as a mediator among the relationship of Total Quality Management (TQM) practices and project performance in the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Malaysia. The problem statement on the implementation and barriers of TQM practices with risk management as a mediator would affect the project performance in terms of cost, delay, safety issues, QAQC, and project sustainability. The Multivariate Analysis was performed using SPSS ver27 software. Results of hypotheses indicated that relationships between human resource management and service quality were insignificant while relationships between process management, technology, leadership, and strategic planning were significant to project performance. Furthermore, risk management as a mediator was found to influence the relationships. The results indicated that adopting relevant dimensions of the TQM practices can enhance the project performance in construction projects.

Economic Hedging by Small-State Firms in Great Power Strategic Competition: The Case of Malaysian Rail Link (MRL) (2013-2020)

Economic Hedging by Small-State Firms in Great Power Strategic Competition: The Case of Malaysian Rail Link (MRL) (2013-2020)

All Aboard the East Coast Rail

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) forms a key component of China’s regional infrastructure plans while promising local development and enhanced economic growth. The project is also Beijing’s answer to its “Malacca Dilemma”. There are, however, immense challenges to the project, such as transparency, economic viability and local stakeholder concerns. This article analyses the geoeconomic regional implications of the ECRL and discusses the project in the context of Malaysia’s internal dynamics.

Projects as a speciation and aggregation mechanism in transitions: Bridging project management and transitions research in the digitalization of UK architecture, engineering, and construction industry.

Sociotechnical transitions are mostly seen in the literature as processes where actors and technologies in small niches peripheral to an organizational field, accumulate momentum, scale up, aggregate, and eventually bring about large-scale regime change. Foundational examples include the British transition from sailing ships to steamships and the American transition from traditional factories to mass production. Herein lies a paradox, transitions concern large scale system change for example transition to electric cars or renewable energy, but large-scale options for technological change driven by incumbents have received less attention in transitions research. This is an important opportunity for transition research to draw on the literature of project management research on large-scale projects. We bridge transitions research and project management research by exploring speciation and aggregation from both perspectives. We illustrate how this bridge may be instantiated drawing on published research and interviews on six megaprojects that have been instrumental in the digital transformation of UK construction: (i) the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, (ii) Heathrow Terminal 5, (iii) London Olympics, (iv) Crossrail, (v) Thames Tideway and (vi) High Speed Two. The speciation of digital technology seeds the process of aggregation and UK industry transition which is driven by incumbents at the organizational field core and ripples outward to its periphery. This is a reverse process to the one mostly considered in transition research where change initiates in small niches peripheral to an organizational field and propagates until it eventually brings about large-scale change to its core.

Augmenting the cities’ and metropolitan regional demands for mega rail infrastructure: the application of SWOT and factor analysis

PurposeIn successfully meeting city and metropolitan growth, sustainable development is compulsory. Sustainability is a must-focus for any project, particularly for large and mega rail infrastructure. This paper aims to investigate to what degree social, environmental and economic factors influence the government when planning sustainable rail infrastructure projects. To respond to such a matter, this paper focuses on two Australian mega-rail projects: the South West Rail Link (SWRL) and the Mernda Rail Extension (MRE).Design/methodology/approachAs the basis of an experimental evaluation framework strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and factor analysis were used. These two methods were specifically selected as comparative tools for SWRL and SWRL projects, to measure their overall sustainability effect.FindingsUsing factor analysis, in the MRE, the factors of network capacity, accessibility, employment and urban planning were seen frequently throughout the case study. However, politics and economic growth had lower frequencies throughout this case study. This difference between the high-weighted factors is likely a key element that determined the SWRL to be more sustainable than the MRE. The SWOT analysis showed the strengths the MRE had over the SWRL such as resource use and waste management, and natural habitat preservation. These two analyses have shown that overall, calculating the sustainability levels of a project can be subjective, based on the conditions surrounding various analysis techniques.Originality/valueThis paper first introduces SWRL and MRE projects followed by a discussion about their overall sustainable development. Both projects go beyond the traditional megaprojects' goal of improving economic growth by developing and enhancing infrastructure. Globally, for such projects, sustainability measures are now considered alongside the goal of economic growth. Second, SWOT and factor analysis are undertaken to further evaluate the complexity of such projects. This includes their overall sustainable development vision alignment with environmental, economic and social factors.

Addressing the occupancy problem of Soekarno-Hatta Airport rail link during its first five years of operation

Airport rail links have long been acknowledged as a crucial component of the modern transportation system. Their attractiveness among air travellers stems from their convenience, speed, and environmental benefits. Despite their advantages, these services often face several occupancy problems that hinder their effectiveness and efficiency. Soekarno-Hatta airport rail link’s operation in 2018-2022 has been marked by low occupancy. This study aims to assess the realisations of several critical attributes of a successful airport rail link service according to TRB studies in the context of the Soekarno-Hatta airport rail link. In this context, it was shown that only four of the seven key attributes have met the minimal level to attain such goals. Despite numerous strategies undertaken during the period, which coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic, most fall under the operating or service adjustments category. The minimal realisations of the seven key attributes confirm the low occupancy levels, yet efforts to increase the ridership were limited during the pandemic. These findings provide avenues for a more successful transfer of operations from PT Railink to PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia with the clear intention of boosting the rail link’s ridership. Alongside several expansion plans by the Directorate General of Railways, the findings shall help public policymakers promote a modal shift and pave the way towards a broader integration with other modes of public transportation in the Jabodetabek region.

Analisis Kepentingan Tiongkok melalui Proyek East Coast Rail Link di Malaysia dalam Tinjauan Konektivitas Geopolitik

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a strategic project between China and Malaysia. Become an alternative rail network project, after the completion of the Malaysia-Singapore fast train project. The ECRL project connects the East and West sides of Malaysia, encompassing several economic zones. In contrast to the Malaysian high-speed rail project, even though the ECRL has faced a lot of opposition, and several times the negotiation process, the ECRL project continues. Using a connectivity geopolitical approach, and qualitative analysis, this study aims to analyze China's interest in the ECRL project. The time limit is from 2016 to 2022, with data collection techniques through literature studies. The findings of this study are that there is interest in geopolitics and geoeconomics, especially in building alternative routes to reduce China's dependence on the Malacca Strait.

Formulating a Way Forward Strategy for Malaysia Cross Border Inland Port Using SWOT and TOWS Analysis

Malaysia holds the position of being Thailand's primary trading partner within the ASEAN region and ranks as the fourth largest trading partner overall. The bilateral trade between these two nations in 2020 amounted to nearly RM80 billion. The seaport in Malaysia has emerged as a preferred hub for exporters from Thailand. Nevertheless, the current cross-border inland port, known as the Padang Besar Inland Port (PBCT), exhibits constraints in its operational capacity. The rapid expansion of the economy in southern Thailand, along with the increasing need for cross-border freight transportation to the nearby Penang seaport in Malaysia, makes the future building of more inland ports across the border an inevitable development. Despite its significance, there is a paucity of detailed studies on inland ports along the Malaysia-Southern Thailand border. Further investigation is necessary to address the recent challenges pertaining to external threats and internal limits faced by cross-border inland ports. This study seeks to explore the present issues faced by the Malaysian cross border inland port and to analyze potential solutions for future development via the application of SWOT and TOWS analysis. The methodology employed in this study encompasses interviews conducted with important stakeholders, on-site observations, and desktop research. A SWOT analysis is conducted on the current cross-border inland port, followed by a proposition of employing a TOWS analysis for future cross-border inland ports. The highlighted findings pertain to major outcomes derived from interviews, on-site observation, and secondary data analysis. The establishment of successful inland ports requires the availability of strong supporting infrastructures and information systems, according to key findings. The development of adequate infrastructure, including well-connected road networks and direct rail links, should be a top priority for the government through NCIA. To reduce competition in the future, it is essential to forge strategic agreements with Southern Thai government and logistical companies. Significant opportunities are presented by the emergence of new markets, namely in the area of halal products and halal logistics. The government should also conduct a thorough assessment of the taxation of transit cargo. Overall, it is intended that the research would provide up-to-date perspectives on the Malaysian cross-border inland port as well as the strategic directions for the relevant authorities and inland port operators.

Transit Oriented Development for Airport Rail Link Stations

This research is aimed at investigating how each of the five factors in transit-oriented development (TOD) principles including 1) Land Use Density such as population density, employment density, household density 2) Land Use Diversity, 3) Station Design, 4) Station Access Distance and 5) Destination Accessibility affects the passengers decision in riding the Airport Rail Link (ARL) services. An interview survey of two hundred spatially stratified sample are conducted of which the responses are statistically analyzed. It is found that land use density, destination accessibility and station access distance are among the top influential factors affecting passenger decision choices on ARL that should be prioritized for further improvements. When considering the sub-factors of each main factor, they affect the passenger decision choice of regular and non-regular users in a similar pattern. In land use density perspective, the development should focus on selecting station areas that have potentials for upgrading into high-density development. In destination accessibility perspective, the development should focus on sufficient parking spaces for park and ride and also sufficient area for passenger drop point. In station access distance perspective, the development should focus on providing feeder transits for TOD stations. In addition, in station design perspective, the development should focus on building or improving footpaths linking to intermodal transfer facilities as well as those located within the station areas. Furthermore, the diversity of mix-use development should be considered in conjunction with the land use density development.

Managing noise and vibration on mega projects in Australia

The last decade has seen the emergence of the mega project in Australia, including Sydney Metro, WestConnex, Western Sydney Airport, Cross River Rail, Melbourne Metro, and North East Link Project. These projects provide challenges in the management of noise and vibration due to site constraints, proximity to sensitive receivers and condensed project timelines. While the environmental noise and vibration regulation of these projects can differ from state to state, the design process remains largely the same. This paper looks at noise and vibration design and management on some of Australia’s biggest infrastructure projects. Design considerations include physical mitigation measures such as acoustics sheds, noise barriers, temporary noise barriers or enclosures, and ventilation mitigation. Management measures and development of ongoing management tools are described. Finally, this paper reflects upon the overall noise and vibration outcomes in terms of impacts on the affected communities compared with cost of mitigation.

Indian Railways: enhancing northeast connectivity with Half-Y connection

Research methodology The case has been developed as an illustrative case study using primary data. The data and images used for developing the case have been collected from the Alipurduar Division of Indian Railways with suitable permissions. The specific newspaper studies used in developing the case content have been referenced as footnotes on the relevant pages of the case study document. Case overview/synopsis Train operations in Alipurduar Division of Northeast Frontier Railway zone of Indian Railways are difficult. The division provides the vital rail link between the northeast states and the rest of India. Railway lines in the Alipurduar Division pass through several forests with a significant elephant population. As an outcome of train–elephant conflicts, train operations on one of the railway lines operate under severe speed restrictions. Moreover, the region is known for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for almost six months every year. For the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), the protagonist of the case, this implied repeated congestion, traffic disruptions, inadvertent delays and lack of time for critical maintenance of the tracks. A solution was planned several years ago for creating an alternative path to de-congest the traffic; however, it ran into a roadblock due to land acquisition issues.With all these limitations, could a solution be found and implemented? How could it be executed?The case illustrates how a simple yet innovative solution was proposed by the DRM in 2015 and implemented in 2016.With this case, students will be able to understand the innovation process that is embedded within long-term infrastructure projects. The case will help students understand how innovation can take place even in the later stages of project implementation, and how simple and creative solutions can have a long-term impact. Complexity academic level The case can be used in graduate and executive education courses in General Management and in Public Policy Management. It can also be used in Doctoral-Level Programmes such as those taught to scholars pursuing Fellow Programme in Management. Since the case brings out elements of problem framing and critical thinking, the case can be used for courses in strategic management. Many professionals, particularly those working in large organizations dealing with large infrastructure projects, will identify with the DRM and the challenges faced by him.

RAILWAY EMBANKMENT CONSTRUCTED ON SOFT DELTAIC DEPOSIT: LONG-TERM BEHAVIOR AND EFFECT OF TREATMENT

Railway construction over the soft soil of the active Ganges-Brahmaputra floodplain in the Padma Bridge Rail Link is the first of its kind in Bangladesh. A 2D finite element modeling using Plaxis investigated the long-term settlement behavior of ballast bottom as well as the factor of safety (FS) of this railway embankment. The contribution of cement-mixing piles (CMPs) in settlement reduction and FS improvement has been studied. Parametric study considers three train speeds, between 100–170 km/hr, and two soil profiles along different chainages: 82km+183m (Ch1) and 84km+102m (Ch2). The settlement of ballast bottom in both chainages are found higher in the long term, showing greater settlement in Ch2. Due to treatment, the short-term settlement of embankment bottom decreases by 13.8% at lower train speeds, and at 170 km/hr, the reduction increases to 18% and 16% for Ch1 and Ch2, respectively. The long-term settlement of ballast bottom is also reduced by 20% for lower speeds and 22% for a train speed of 170km/hr. CMP treatment is effective in settlement reduction, and the behavior was almost similar for both chainages, both short-and long-term. The treatment is seen to be more effective at higher train speeds. Due to treatment, increases of FS by 29–31% and 25–27% for Ch1, as well as 35–39% and 26–30% for Ch2, are obtained in the short and long term, respectively. The effect of treatment in providing stability is more prominent for Ch2 and its effect is also greater in the short term.

Orta Asya’da Çin’in Ekonomik Varlığı: Kazakistan Örneği

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, China has significantly increased its economic presence in Central Asia thanks to leading Chinese institutions such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank AIIB. Now on the course, China is one of the most significant partners for Central Asian states. China has opened up to private business and foreign investment. State-owned banks turned saving into financing infrastructure facilities such as roads and rail links. Foreign firms were asked to set up alongside a local partner, encouraging to transfer of technology. For decades, as a result, China's economy has grown. This paper will focus on Kazakhstan as a case country in Central Asia. Diplomatic ties between Astana and Beijing developed shortly after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, with both countries moving on to co-found the Shanghai five, which later turned into the SCO. From Kazakhstan's point of view, the country's geopolitical situation leaves it no choice but to cooperate with Russia and China, Kazakhstan's two most potent and closest neighbors. Currently, Kazakhstan's strategy provides the path to China's economic outreach, while Beijing's growing investments provide Kazakhstan's path to modernization. Kazakhstan and China have extended their diplomatic ties since 1991, and since the launch of the BRI in 2013, they even furthered their economic relations are thriving. Financial integration is vital to supporting the BRI; therefore, the AIIB was established. Along with the significant growing economic influence, two main challenges require feasible solutions one is the Russian reaction to China's growing economic presence, and the other is the anti-Chinese sentiment that causes demonstrations in Kazakhstan.

Optimal Sampling Plan for Freight Demand Synthesis with Mode Choice: A Case study of Bangladesh

This paper uses a comprehensive experimental design to investigate the influence of various traffic count sampling plans for Bangladesh on the performance of the Freight Origin-Destination Synthesis model with Mode Choice (FODS-MC) developed by Kalahasthi et al. FODS-MC estimates a national-level freight demand model including trip distribution, mode choice, empty truck trips, and empty rail trips, where one of the key inputs is the freight truck and rail, traffic counts. The traffic count sample comprises three types of road links (national, regional, and zilla) and one category for the rail link across the country. A Box–Behnken Design (BBD) with a response surface for each of four FODS-MC parameters (distribution, mode choice, truck empty trips, and rail empty trips) is constructed. The results showed that the response surfaces are nonlinear planes for all parameters. There is no single optimal sampling plan for FODS-MC as each model parameter demands different distribution across the truck and rail links. The random and stratified samples perform almost similarly if less than 20% of the sample is collected. Minimizing the loss functions between the estimated and true parameters shows that a random sample between 20% and 25% of the truck and rail links estimates the best freight demand model. Overall, this research develops a framework to assist public practitioners in the optimum usage of the limited time and resources in collecting the traffic count data that could estimate the freight demand and mode choice models effectively.

Infrastructure and politics: Why the Belt and Road Initiative proceeded differently in Malaysia and Indonesia

The article seeks to understand the different types and sources of politicisation as well as the consequences for Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects. It is argued that while the personalised insulated type of foreign policymaking is conducive to intra‐system politicisation, the institutionalised responsive type is associated with extra‐system politicisation. While the former type is contingent on political turnovers and brings about abrupt shocks, the latter oftentimes generates societal pushback from socio‐economic groups. The article focuses on two flagship Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects in Malaysia and Indonesia. Based on fieldwork interviews and process tracing, the article finds that the East Coast Rail Link project in Malaysia has suffered from high risk of political interruption owing to Malaysia's personalised insulated type of foreign policymaking, whereas the Jakarta–Bandung High Speed Rail project in Indonesia has encountered sustained obstacles from Indonesian society and brought about substantial delays under Indonesia's institutionalised responsive type.

International Tourism Policy and Development: Indian Tourism Policy

India is one of the worldwide tourist goals. The current study focused on it in the context of tourism policy and its industry, which is rapidly growing, particularly in Delhi and Mumbai. The rapid growth of India's tourism industry is affected by several factors, including the country's high economic growth rate over the past decade and the fact that it is now one of the more affordable destinations for foreign tourists. Additionally, several significant challenges are associated with developing the Indian tourism industry. To address these challenges and ensure that India's tourism industry continues to increase in the years to come, the government has introduced several new tourism policies aimed at improving the infrastructure available in the country and making it easier for tourists to come and visit. These policies include introducing a dedicated high-speed rail link between Delhi and Mumbai, developing a new visa policy for foreign visitors, and simplifying the process for acquiring permits for filming or photography in popular tourist attractions nationwide. Overall, these policies represent a significant step in developing the Indian tourism industry and will go a long way towards guaranteeing that the country remains a popular destination for tourists worldwide for many years; this study focused on it deeply based on earlier investigations.

Polish railways from the perspective of the European Green Deal

In January 2020 the European Parliament approved a resolution on the Green Deal, which aims to ensure that the EU achieves climate neutrality by 2050. Crucial to achieving the strategy’s goals is sustainable and green mobility. Rail transport as the most sustainable mode of transport is an important factor in achieving these changes.This article presents a synthetic diagnosis of the position of railways on the passenger transport market in Poland, in the context of the Green Deal assumptions. The essential analysis was preceded by a discussion of the structure of external transport costs, which is one of the determinants of the Green Deal. Trends in passenger transport were then identified and attention was paid to the shift of inter-industry relations in favour of rail transport. An analysis of the structure of regional and agglomeration rail transport was also carried out. Developments in this market area show a revitalisation of agglomeration rail links, which fits in with the sustainable mobility strategy.