Rail System Research Articles

Zabici i zmarli z ran w walkach o Lwów we wrześniu 1939 roku

PERSONS KILLED AND DIED OF WOUNDS IN THE FIGHTS FOR LVIV IN SEPTEMBER 1939 RECORDED IN LIBER MORTUORUM OF ST.MARY MAGDALENE PARISH IN LVIVFrom the first day of World War 2, Lviv, one of the largest Polish cities, was the aim of German air force attacks. On 12 September 1939, German troops made the first attempt of capturing the city. Eventually, after ten days of defence, troops of the Red Army entered Lviv on 22 September 1939. Fights in defence of Lviv during the 1939 Polish September Campaign resulted in numerous victims, both among the soldiers of the Polish Army and among the civilian population. Most people died as a result of bombing raids and artillery shelling of the city by the Germans. In the publications to date, the number of deaths among the civilian population has been estimated at 4-5 thousand people (about 300 killed every day). Based on the available sources, mainly church registers of the dead (liber mortuorum) and cemetery registers of burials, the number of civilian victims of the September fights for Lviv was verified as roughly half that (2,000 killed, around 100 each day). The annex contains a list of those killed and died due to wounds in September 1939, recorded in the Book of the Dead in one of the Lviv parishes, St. Mary Magdalene Parish. Among 44 people, there are also names of officers, policemen, lecturers, architects, officials, as well as ordinary residents of Lviv, railroad workers, merchants, maids, students and even children.

The impact of high-speed rail network on high-end service industry development: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta, China

Amidst the rapid evolution of transportation infrastructure, high-speed rail emerges as a transformative force reshaping regional economies. This study addresses a critical research gap by exploring the influence of HSR on high-end service industries within China's dynamic Yangtze River Delta region. Recognizing the strategic importance of HSR in contemporary economic landscapes, the research delves into its role as a catalyst for industrial growth, particularly in sectors pivotal for knowledge-intensive high-end service industry. Using Social Network Analysis and fixed effect models, the study assesses the multifaceted impacts of HSR network accessibility and connectivity on key sectors like scientific research, financial services, business services, and information transmission. Findings indicate a significant positive influence on most sectors, although nuances emerge in financial services, highlighting the complex interplay between HSR and sector-specific dynamics. The study further reveals distinct effects across various urban sizes and locations, pointing to an urban-centric advantage in HSR's economic impacts. By identifying market demand, technology spillover, and labor pooling as principal channels of HSR's influence, this research contributes to the understanding of how modern transportation infrastructures can be leveraged for regional economic integration and sectoral development. While focusing on the YRD, the study's insights offer a broader reflection on the strategic planning of HSR in similar global contexts.

The impacts of high-speed rail networks on urban green innovation

The impacts of high-speed rail networks on urban green innovation

Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Connecting Tracks for Expansion of High-Speed Rail Network

New rail lines have been constructed to accommodate the growing demand for high-speed train passengers. In this regard, life cycle cost (LLC) analysis is an essential decision-support tool for evaluating the feasibility of track construction plans for high-speed rail lines. In the construction sequence for connecting tracks, a turnout track can be installed at the connection point between two lines after the existing track has been demolished. The LLC varies depending on the type of track components. Therefore, this study aims to compare and analyze the LCC results of different connecting track scenarios in high-speed rail lines. The total construction cost for designing the existing and new connecting tracks with a concrete track bed was found to be between 484 and 561 million KRW (for turnout No. 18.5–46), which is approximately 230 million KRW higher than that of a gravel track bed. However, the LLC of the ballast track exceeded that of the slab track after seven years of operation. A connecting track comprising a slab and high-speed turnout can reduce the LCC value.

A Comprehensive Overview of Manufacturing and In-service Defects in Rails: Occurrence and Remedies

Abstract: Indian Railways, the second-largest rail network in Asia and the fourth-largest in the world, has been a cornerstone of India's progress for 162 years. With over 19,000 trains serving 7,112 stations, this national institution is vital to the country’s economic and social development. It strengthens regional connectivity, enhances citizen mobility, and fuels commercial growth, all while providing top-tier logistics and transportation infrastructure. In 2021, Indian Railways freight revenues were $16 billion. Furthermore, the auto sector favours Indian Railways as its primary transporter. Although using trains for transportation has many benefits and is safe, the frequency of train accidents is continually rising. Indian Railways reported 373 train derailments between 2009 and 2015. More than 60% rail accidents are due to defects in the rail tracks. Derailment has been responsible for more than 50% of railway accidents in the past three years. Defective track, mostly rail, has been the cause of 29% of these occurrences. In the past three years, derailment-related accidents have increased by 67%. This paper discusses the different types of in-service defects in rail steels, which are the causes of accidents in India. The study also intends to identify ways of reducing the disastrous effects of vehicle derailments through suitable measures according to the gravity of railway accidents. The role of metallurgy in development of materials for rails is also highlighted.

Enhancing line loadability in urban rail systems: evaluating the impact of distributed generation on voltage stability, power losses and generation costs

Alternative source of electrical energy for urban railway electrification system is Direct Current (DC). Traction Power Substations (TPS) were essentially connected to the electrical grid network managed by the electrical utility company for operating and powering purposes. Power unbalance frequently occurs in the high voltage railway network due to the load of the traction system. The aim of this project is to find the impact of distribution generation (DG) for line loadability in urban rail systems. The output that needs to be considered are the voltage profile, power losses and generation cost. The simulation was considered to prove the positive impact of distributed generation for line loadability in urban rail system. Electrical energy was crucial for Direct Current (DC) railway electrification systems, as it provided the traction power necessary for train operations via Traction Power Substations (TPS) that connected to the electrical grid network. However, power imbalances frequently arose due to the varying loads imposed by traction systems, resulting in inefficiencies, suboptimal voltage profiles, increased power losses and higher operational costs. With the expansion of urban rail networks and the growing need for efficient power management, it became vital to explore solutions that could enhance loadability and system performance. This project examined the impact of integrating Distributed Generation (DG) on the line loadability of urban rail systems, concentrating on improvements in voltage profiles, reductions in power losses and the evaluation of generation costs. The methodology involved developing a detailed simulation model of the urban rail system, incorporating DG scenarios, analyzing their effects on voltage stability, power losses and costs. The simulation results were anticipated to demonstrate that DG could improve voltage stability, reduce power losses, lower generation costs and increase line loadability. The implications of these findings encompassed enhanced operational efficiency, potential economic benefits despite high initial investments, increased sustainability through renewable energy and valuable guidance for future infrastructure development and investment decisions.

Optimization of Energy Involved in Rolling Stock of a Sub-Urban Rail Transport System

Objectives: This research is based on the real-world study of Mumbai Metro, which focuses on enhancing the efficiency of metro rail systems by optimizing the timetable to synchronize train movements. The primary goal is to minimize total energy consumption by maximizing the exchange of regenerative-braking energy. Methods: Mumbai Metro Rolling Stock is having regenerative braking systems, allowing surplus energy regenerated during braking to be transferred to other trains in the same electrical rail section. To achieve this optimization, a graphical method is used to coordinate the time synchronization of the braking train arriving at a station with the accelerating train departing from the same or different station. This coordination ensures that regenerative-braking energy is effectively utilized and distributed among trains within the system. By quantifying the energy savings resulting from synchronization, this model provides an incentive for implementing more efficient train scheduling practices. The application of this model was demonstrated through the design of schedules for the Mumbai Metro. The implementation resulted in measurable energy savings, showcasing a clear correlation between train movement synchronization and reduced energy consumption. Importantly, this optimization strategy does not compromise overall passenger service quality and can be implemented with relatively low investment costs. In conclusion, adjusting the timetable in force based on principles of time synchronization and energy optimization has the potential to yield considerable energy savings for metro rail systems. Findings: This research emphasizes the importance of strategic train scheduling in maximizing the efficiency and sustainability of public transportation networks using regeneration of electrical energy. By implementing the optimized timetable, could lead to approximately a 5.03 % increase in regenerative energy utilization which would save 2.2 % in total energy consumption. Novelty: This study introduces a novel method to assess energy cooperation between trains using timetable optimization because this is the first real-world study of its kind conducted on any Indian metro system in which if one train is in braking mode then another train in the same electrical section should be in motoring mode so as to avoid the losses of the regenerated energy. Keywords: Optimization, Headway, Dwell time, Coasting period, Traction energy

Inquiring into the Railroad Workers’ Disease

This article presents a historical and investigative narrative, “The Railway Workers’ Disease,” to actively engage students in science. The case focuses on the research challenges encountered by Carlos Chagas in Brazil in the early twentieth century. Chagas eventually identified a new disease, the previously unknown protozoan that caused it, and the insect vector that transmitted it: a remarkable triple discovery. By situating inquiry in a historical scenario, teachers can place students in the shoes of actual historical scientists and pose inquiry questions in an authentic context. Our students expressed a sense of being active participants alongside Carlos in conducting a scientific investigation and reported a deeper understanding of scientific practices than in their regular classes. The interactive storytelling and discussion method also enables inquiry learning about the nature of science, in addition to the standard textbook concepts of infectious diseases, protozoa, and the ecology of parasitic insects.

Vibroacoustic response of a heavy fluid loaded plate with ABH stiffeners

Abstract Stiffened structures are essential for a wide range of engineering applications including aeronautics, marine and rail systems. Adding stiffeners to a host structure leads to generation of Bloch-Floquet waves, which are induced by the interaction between the flexural waves in the host structure and the flexural/torsional waves in the stiffeners. These waves could generate unwanted noise and vibrations which should be mitigated. Acoustic black holes (ABHs) are widely used as a passive-control approach to mitigate vibrations of elastic structures. This study aims to use ABHs integrated as stiffeners for a fluid-loaded plate. Hence, the host structure is not modified, and its structural integrity is maintained. A heavy fluid-loaded infinite plate with periodic ABH stiffeners under a line force excitation is considered (i.e., a two-dimensional model). To obtain the vibrocoustic response, the system is modelled using the COMSOL Multiphysics®. The effectiveness of the ABH stiffeners in mitigating the vibration and noise from the fluid loaded plate is examined.

Using "Enacted Purposes" to Interpret a Regulatory Statute

How does a regulatory agency or a reviewing court deal with the multiple “enacted purposes” that may exist in a regulatory statute? In this Article it is argued that the problem of multiple purposes can be optimally dealt with by looking at these purposes as forming an optimization problem—minimization or maximization. This novel approach requires identifying, if possible, one purpose as the primary objective and then treating the other clearly stated purposes as constraints. Depending on the issue at hand, not all constraints will be relevant. However, the primary objective will always need to be considered. Once the primary objective and applicable constraints are identified, then the result can be used to define ambiguous statutory terms such as “in the public interest.” This optimization approach is utilized in evaluating the legal validity of the Surface Transportation Board’s new rule, Reciprocal Switching for Inadequate Service. The Board regulates the freight rail industry under the authority of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980. Reciprocal switching “is an arrangement that permits an industry served by a single rail carrier to access additional rail services through a competing line haul carrier.” The validity of the new rule is currently under review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The Staggers Act provides that the Board may promulgate a rule implementing prescribed reciprocal switching if it is based on the authority derived from the term “in the public interest.” Unfortunately, when determining if it was acting “in the public interest” in promulgating its new rule, the Board did not adequately take into consideration all of the Act’s enacted purposes, including the primary objective of minimizing regulation. This is an unreasonable approach, an arbitrary and capricious act, and therefore the Seventh Circuit is duty bound to vacate it. Moreover, in a post-Chevron world, even if the Board were to revise its rule so it would be considered reasonable, a reviewing court could still find that its interpretation is not correct. This is where the applying of the optimization approach will be of most value, minimizing the risk that this will happen.

Inundation risk assessment in urban rail system of mega-city via GIS-based multi criteria decision approach

Inundation risk assessment in urban rail system of mega-city via GIS-based multi criteria decision approach

SYNCHRONIZATION OF THE LAST-TRAIN TIMETABLE CONSIDERING PASSENGER TRANSFER TIME

Unsynchronized integrated lines in urban rail systems may cause some passengers to miss their last transfer chance. Therefore, passengers move faster in a swarm mentality to catch the last train. This study aims to synchronize the last-train timetable so that the maximum possible number of passengers can be transferred at the transfer stations by waiting for the minimum time. This paper provides a new approach to show that passengers who try to get to the last train at the transfer station move faster and describes the transfer processes with heuristic algorithms. In the case of the Istanbul urban rail system, passengers transfer to the last train 32% faster than average. To find the heuristic algorithm that defines the transfer processes of these passengers, particle swarm algorithms, dragonfly algorithms, and a simulated annealing algorithm were selected for comparison. The transfer times obtained with the particle swarm algorithm and the actual transfer times gave close results between 97.6% and 99.2%. The modified last-train timetable with predicted transfer time increases the number of successful transfers by 28%, decreasing the average waiting time of passengers from 197.27 seconds to 50.56 seconds. In addition, passengers wait 58 seconds less for the transfer to the last train by adjusting the timetable to the modified last train transfer time.

The energy consumption characteristics of a new type of energy dissipating vibration-damping fastener

To address the issue of inadequate energy dissipation capacity in current vibration-damping fasteners, this study examined the impact of stiffness and damping factor of vibration-damping fasteners on the vibration attenuation rate of rails, based on the theoretical model of a periodic double-layer support system. An intrinsic manganese–copper (Mn–Cu) damping alloy model was established, and the parameters for the Prony analysis and PRF model were determined to accurately define the hyperelastic and linear viscoelastic properties of the damping alloy in the finite element simulation software. A new type of energy dissipating vibration-damping fastener (NEDF) was designed based on these criteria and practical operational conditions. Static and dynamic stiffness simulation calculations were performed to examine the vibration isolation ability of NEDF, which was then installed in a rail system to conduct hammering tests, aiming to investigate its energy dissipation characteristics. The results indicated that NEDF exhibited a high damping factor and maintained significant vibration isolation capacity, notably enhancing the vibration attenuation rate of the rails and improving energy dissipation capacity.

Analysis of the Station Passenger Capacity: The Case Study of Kocaeli Tram Line

Public transportation systems play a crucial role in facilitating mobility in bustling urban areas and alleviating traffic congestion. Among various urban rail system types, trams have emerged as environmentally friendly, low carbon emission, and high-capacity transportation vehicles. Effective use of tram lines necessitates accurate capacity planning. The aim of this study was to assess whether the station passenger capacity of the tram serving Kocaeli is adequate for peak hour travel demands. This study initially provides information on tram system criteria, capacity types, and components. Subsequently, details about the line, vehicle specifications, dwell times, peak hours, train and passenger numbers, and their correlation with stations are discussed. Various calculation techniques are explored to estimate station passenger capacity, with analytical methods based on 2022 data employed in this study. The analysis reveals that the tram line operates close to its station passenger capacity, particularly during peak hours, and may exceed capacity on special occasions. It is anticipated that the station capacity of this line, which serves the city center route, may struggle to accommodate passenger demand in the near future. Consequently, suggestions for enhancing line and station capacity are proposed to ensure that passengers have a comfortable waiting experience.

A novel TCN-GRU based open set method for unknown damage diagnosis

Abstract In the aerospace and high-speed rail industries, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has seen widespread application. CFRP plates and connectors in operation are often subjected to impacts that can cause damage. The unpredictable nature of the impacts introduces uncertainties in both the location and extent of the damage, posing significant challenges to traditional supervised learning models, which often struggle with missed detections or misclassifications when identifying unknown damages. To address the issue, a deep learning model based on temporal convolutional network-gated recurrent unit (TCN-GRU) is proposed. TCN extracts features from the raw time domain signals, and GRU selectively retains the significant features and completes sequence modeling. A center loss function is incorporated into the fully connected layer to improve the effects of intra-class aggregation and inter-class separation. An unknown detection module is introduced to realize the identification and classification of unknown damages based on a predefined threshold. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method can achieve effective unknown damage diagnosis in the open set case. This study provides a feasible solution for open set unknown damage diagnosis in CFRP plates and connectors.

Research on the pressure fluctuations and hydraulic resonance phenomena in the high-pressure pipelines of marine common rail systems

Increasing injection pressures in marine high-pressure common rail systems can lead to reliability issues due to pressure fluctuations. This study investigates the mechanism of hydraulic resonance caused by these fluctuations. A test bench assessed pressure fluctuations under various conditions and fuel pipe parameters, where hydraulic resonance was observed. Time-domain and frequency-domain analyses were conducted on the test results. The system pipeline was then optimized to eliminate hydraulic resonance. Resultsindicate that pressure fluctuations exhibit both high- and low-frequency coupling. Abnormal fluctuations are caused by hydraulic resonance, triggered by the proximity between the excitation frequency of the high-pressure fuel pump and the first-order natural frequency of the system. Resonance speed is influenced by the fuel pipe's structural parameters and the fuel's hydraulic properties. The frequency-domain model shows high predictive accuracy, identifying the interface between the pump and the pipeline as the most probable failure location. Optimization reduced pressure fluctuations at the pump end and the common rail by 73 % and 35.7 %, respectively, and eliminated hydraulic resonance at the original resonance speed. The maximum pressure fluctuation amplitude at the pump end decreased from 410 bar to 167 bar, a 59.3 % reduction. The research methodology presented in this paper provides a theoretical foundation for the structural design of the high-pressure pipeline in high-pressure common rail systems.

Navigating uncertainty with cybernetics principles: A scoping review of interdisciplinary resilience strategies for rail systems

AbstractCommon difficulties across industries are discovered in data management, where handling the volume, variety, and quality of data is crucial for informed decisions in uncertain environments. In this context, rail management must navigate complex decision‐making to ensure safety, service continuity, and cost‐effectiveness. The 2020 Stonehaven derailment is an example of the increasing vulnerability of rail infrastructure to environmental factors and systemic failures. It emphasizes the need for resilient systems, proficient at preventative maintenance and adaptable to escalating challenges. These matters further accentuate the need for context‐dependent strategies that bridge theoretical insights and practical applications. This scoping review explores strategies for decision‐making under uncertainty across sectors such as civil infrastructure, agriculture, water management, and emergency response. It unfolds a selection of procedures addressing the impacts of extreme weather and other unexpected disruptions. It also sets a foundation for future research to support rail infrastructure adaptation to climate change by advocating the use of cybernetic principles and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance decision‐making processes. Cybernetics enables collaborative human‐AI methods, improving adaptability and resilience. However, balancing and incorporating diverse stakeholder viewpoints into decision chains remains difficult. While promising, substantial research and system improvements are needed to fully harness the potential of AI.

Indoor and ambient influences on PM2.5 exposure and well-being for a rail impacted community and implications for personal protections

Abstract Background
Higher air pollution concentrations can be observed near rail networks, local and highway automobile corridors, and shipyards. Communities adjacent to such sources are disproportionately exposed to air pollution from these stationary and mobile sources. One such community is West San Bernardino in California, where households are feet away from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe intermodal facility and are impacted by activities that are estimated to continuously emit air pollutants due to 24/7 operation.
Objective
This study aimed to (1) quantify the impact of personal mobility and housing characteristics on daily PM2.5 exposures and well-being for West San Bernardino community members, and (2) develop individualized resilience plans for community collaborators to support future PM2.5 exposure reduction. 
Methods
Personal PM2.5 exposures were measured for community collaborators for seven consecutive days during three deployment periods: October 2021, January 2022, and March 2022. Indoor and ambient PM2.5 levels were also continuously measured for five households over six months using PurpleAir Classic monitors. Demographic and well-being data were collected upon recruitment and after each week of engagement, respectively. 
Results
Personal exposures in home microenvironments were highest near the railyard and lower farthest away from the railyard. Home exposures were 40% higher on average compared to non-home microenvironments. Household PM2.5 had a higher-than-expected average infiltration factor of 0.55, and indoor 98th percentiles across the households far exceeded a healthy level at an average of 165 μg/m3. Resilience plans featured summaries of personal data and recommendations for mitigating exposures. 
Significance
Results suggest that surrounding land use and residential building characteristics compound to worsen air pollution exposures beyond what is expected for exposures in non-industrialized areas. Findings prompt a call for stronger regulation, not only for emissions, but also for indoor air quality and zoning standards that specifically protect disproportionately impacted communities.

Experimental study on the acoustic roughness spectrum of high-speed railway rails

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the acoustic roughness of rails on China’s high-speed railways, with a focus on short-wavelength irregularities (less than 80 cm), which are known to significantly contribute to noise. The goal is to develop a specific acoustic roughness spectrum tailored for China’s high-speed railway system, as no such spectrum currently exists.Design/methodology/approachA long-term tracking study was conducted on major railway lines in China, monitoring rail roughness throughout the initial operational period and the rails’ service life. Data preprocessing techniques such as peak removal and curvature correction were applied for acoustic adjustments. A spatial-wavelength domain transformation was performed, providing the distribution patterns and statistical characteristics of acoustic roughness on China’s high-speed rails. Based on these analyses, a model for constructing the acoustic roughness spectrum was developed.FindingsThe study found that the acoustic roughness of China’s high-speed railway rails follows a χ2 distribution with six degrees of freedom. For wavelengths greater than 8 cm, the acoustic roughness spectrum remains below the ISO specified limits. In the wavelength range of 3.2 cm to 6.3 cm, the roughness is comparable to or within the limits specified by ISO 3095:2005 and ISO 3095:2013. However, for wavelengths shorter than 2.5 cm, the roughness exceeds ISO limits.Originality/valueThis research fills the gap in the lack of a specific acoustic roughness spectrum for China’s high-speed railways. By establishing a tailored spectrum based on long-term data analysis, the findings provide valuable insights for noise control and rail maintenance in the context of China’s high-speed rail system.

An online train-grid integration energy optimization method for urban rail system

The energy consumption of urban rail systems is influenced by the coordination between power supply system and train operation. Currently, these two aspects are not aligned in energy optimization efforts, leading to substantial energy wastage. This paper proposes an energy optimization method that integrates power supply system and train operation. Firstly, the factors influencing system energy optimization are analyzed, and optimization objectives and variables are established. Subsequently, an online train-grid integration energy optimization strategy is outlined, encompassing flexible traction power supply system regulation and train operation regulation. Finally, validation is conducted through simulation encompassing a diverse range of operational scenarios, ensuring a comprehensive verification of its performance and applicability. The results indicate that the implementation of energy-efficient regulation strategies for train-grid integration yields a notable reduction in overall energy consumption, amounting to a reduction of up to 10.75 %. The proposed method effectively optimizes system energy in diverse scenarios, thereby consolidating and maximizing the energy-saving potential within the fields of electrical engineering and transportation. This paper offers novel insights for interdisciplinary operational enhancements within the urban rail transit.