Rail Transport Research Articles

Vasúti közlekedés során keletkező zajok okainak és hatásainak elemzése

Noise emissions from rail transport are a major concern, as they affect both the environment and people's health and quality of life. Among the many sources of noise emissions, rail vehicles and infrastructure are a major factor. With regard to rail noise emissions, it can be concluded that noise effects are influenced by a number of factors. These factors include train speed, track condition, traction technology and the noise abatement methods used. The negative effects of noise exposure include sleep disturbance, stress and mental health deterioration. It also affects the quality of life of people in urban areas and property prices. It should be emphasised that reducing noise emissions from rail transport is key to creating a healthier and more sustainable urban environment. To achieve this, it is important to use modern noise abatement technologies, improve infrastructure and implement noise abatement actions effectively. Transport authorities and railway companies should work together to achieve a more noise-free rail transport, to improve people's quality of life and to protect the environment.

Evolution of the revenue/ expenditure structure and passenger cost coverage ratio of regular passenger transport between 2007 and 2022

This article presents a general methodology for aggregating the actual costs and revenues of public transport in Hungary, which allows to calculate a realistic passenger (user) cost coverage ratio for the main players in the domestic market (MÁV-Volán Group, GYSEV, BKK). After an international perspective and a presentation of the specificities of the domestic market, it is concluded that the cost coverage ratio for fixed rail transport is significantly lower than for public transport services on road. The main reason for this is that fixed rail infrastructure is expensive to develop and operate and is mainly used by public passenger transport. The ridership ratio is significantly reduced by significant investments, and this has been analysed both on a time series and average basis. We present the timetable, tariff changes and major investments that have had an impact on ridership rates, typically only to a small extent. Our analysis is financially oriented and only touches on positive externalities, social benefits and the general government balance

Failure mode analysis and prediction model of additively manufactured continuous carbon fiber‐reinforced polylactic acid

AbstractCarbon fiber‐reinforced composites are widely used in aerospace, rail transportation, and new energy vehicles due to their small specific gravity as well as good mechanical and chemical properties. Additive manufacturing of continuous carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer composites is an innovative composite manufacturing technique. In this paper, bending and shear specimens with different hatch spacing and layer thicknesses were prepared by fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique and subjected to three‐point bending experiments and interlayer shear experiments, respectively. The results showed that the maximum flexural strength and flexural modulus of the fabricated parts were 383.81 MPa and 41.23 GPa, respectively, and the maximum interlayer shear strength was 13.64 MPa. Finally, an optimized criterion for determining fiber kinking, fiber breakage, and matrix damage was proposed by considering in situ strength variations induced by process parameters. This new model was subsequently validated and could provide a method for fracture predicting of additive manufactured carbon fiber‐reinforced composites.Highlights CCFRC parts with different porosities were prepared by adjusting the layer thickness and hatch spacing. The bending and interlaminar shear damage mechanisms of CCFRC fabrications are revealed, and the effects of layer thickness and hatch spacing on their mechanical properties are investigated. Introduction of additive manufacturing factors to optimize failure models for CCFRC parts. Introduction of additive manufacturing coefficients to accurately predict the interlaminar shear strength of CCFRC parts by AM.

Assessment of Implementing Green Logistics Principles in Railway Transport: The Case of Lithuania

Today, green transport is a growing trend in terms of transport costs, CO2 emissions and satisfaction with logistics services. Green logistics is an environmentally friendly and sustainable logistics system that encompasses activities affecting logistics functions and processes, promoting the environment and the development of a circular economy. Rail transport is considered to be one of the least polluting modes of transport, but the fact that only electrified rail represents the concept of green logistics has been underemphasised, as the fleet consisting of diesel trains is a major challenge. This article aims to investigate the implementation of green logistics in railway transport in the case of Lithuania. The scientific literature, SWOT analysis, expert evaluation and parameter correlation methods were used to achieve this goal. An analysis of the internal and external factors of Lithuanian Railways in terms of green logistics has identified the main strengths of rail transport. These are environmental friendliness, electric trains reducing CO2 emissions, a strong focus on circular economy and others. The main weaknesses include the more extensive use of diesel trains, competition, etc. The external factors of the company show that the main opportunities are the reduction in net CO2 emissions to zero, the acquisition of more electric locomotives and others, while the main threats include an increase in energy costs or the complexity of implementing new technologies. An analysis of these factors has led to the construction of a SWOT matrix, which shows that the company’s strategy in the field of green logistics is quite strong, with more strengths than weaknesses. The results made it possible to identify the links between the individual implementation principles of green logistics in railway transport and provide strategic guidelines for the successful integration of green logistic principles into railway transport in Lithuania.

Topological analysis of roadway and railway networks of the Ukrainian-Polish borderlands (on the example of Lviv Oblast and Subcarpathian Voivodeship)


 
 
 The paper presents an analysis of functioning of roadway and railway networks in the context of logistics flows. The interaction of road vehicles and railroad cars within the given territories was characterized. The provided spatiotemporal modelling allows comparing the configuration of roadways and railways from the peripheral settlements to the regional capitals. The points that form transport links with the administrative centres of each studied territory were identified. A comparative topological analysis of the given lines of roadway and railway transport within the Ukrainian-Polish borderland employed quantitative (distance, time) and qualitative (curvature, travel speed) modelling parameters, characterizing the relationship of the borderland territories in two neighbouring countries of Eastern Europe. Relative indicators, which include curvature and speed, were estimated. A database of settlements based on accessibility to the city by road and rail transport was created, taking into account the top-10 centres of territorial communities, or hromadas, in Lviv Oblast and Subcarpathian Voivodeship. Alternative modes of transport for travelling from a centre of territorial community to the regional centre in Ukraine and Poland were highlighted. The study compared the settlements with low transport accessibility to the regional capital (oblast, voivodeship), taking into account the functioning of the roadway and railway networks. Social-geographical problems of the given territories were identified based on the analysis of topological indicators of each transport connections. I found that the network system of transport infrastructure in Subcarpathian Voivodeship is low-dense, especially in mountainous areas. Also, there was analyzed high accessibility of suburban settlements to the city of Rzeszów. In Lviv, connection between the suburbs and the city centre can be called problematic. Within the studied borderland areas, there were also found cases of disuse of the existing railway stations for passenger traffic. Variants that would promote the development of public transport in the Lviv Oblast have been proposed, based on the example of the transport model in Subcarpathian Voivodeship. Applied developments include the need to build the Opillia-Roztocze highway, assignement of high-speed electric trains from remote areas to the regional capital.
 
 

The cost of CO2 transport by truck and rail in the United States

Transportation of CO2 to storage sites has long been an afterthought in carbon management technologies, with the unspoken assumption that pipelines and ships are the optimal solutions. In addition to legal, political, and public challenges to this notion, there may be situations where alternative transport options such as truck and rail are cheaper. Despite truck and rail transport of CO2 occurring at a significant scale today, there is a comparative lack of economic cost models for these transport modes in the CO2 management literature. We build bottom-up cost estimates for the transportation of CO2 in tankers or intermodal containers moved via trucks or rail using commercially available technologies applied in the United States. We find that existing cost models in the literature for truck and rail transport underestimate total cost. These underestimates are primarily due to excluding the need for buffer storage, upstream liquefaction, downstream reconditioning, and regulatory restrictions from analysis. We find that trucking options are typically cheaper for distances less than ∼400 miles. For truck transport, we find intermodal containers are cheaper than tankers starting at project scales greater than ∼400 kt-CO2/y. For rail transport, tankers are consistently cheaper than intermodals, but this result relies upon the assumption of dedicated unit cars traveling on uncongested routes. Even so, intermodal rail becomes competitive with Tanker Rail at scales over ∼200 kt-CO2/y. The primary cost driver for truck-based transportation is labor. For rail-based transport, the base rate paid to the rail operator represents the largest cost.

Toward the Enhancement of Rail Sustainability: Demonstration of a Holistic Approach to Obstacle Detection in Operational Railway Environments

Rail transport plays a crucial role in promoting sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of transport. Ongoing efforts to improve the sustainability of rail transport through technological advancements and operational improvements are further enhancing its reputation as a sustainable mode of transport. Autonomous obstacle detection in railways is a critical aspect of railway safety and operation. While the widespread deployment of autonomous obstacle detection systems is still under consideration, the ongoing advancements in technology and infrastructure are paving the way for their full implementation. The SMART2 project developed a holistic obstacle detection (OD) system consisting of three sub-systems: long-range on-board, trackside (TS), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based OD sub-systems. All three sub-systems are integrated into a holistic OD system via interfaces to a central Decision Support System (DSS) that analyzes the inputs of all three sub-systems and makes decision about locations of possible hazardous obstacles with respect to trains. A holistic approach to autonomous obstacle detection for railways increases the detection area, including areas behind a curve, a slope, tunnels, and other elements blocking the train’s view on the rail tracks, in addition to providing long-range straight rail track OD. This paper presents a demonstration of the SMART2 holistic OD performed during the operational cargo haul with in-service trains. This paper defines the demonstration setup and scenario and shows the performance of the developed holistic OD system in a real environment.

The new world order in the safety of cargo transportation

This article analyzes new organizational processes of transport use in cargo movement between the Economic Union countries and China. Nowadays the organization of cargo transportation to the Russian, European and Asian markets is associated with high risks. Growing interstate confrontation of the countries participating in the Euro-Asian market has a devastating effect on the transport organizational mechanism of road, rail and sea cargo transportation. The authors of the study act as analysts of the processes of formation of a new economic order in the security of transport parameters of resource movement in space and time, which determine the efficiency and competitiveness of the production link of regions on the basis of expanding organizational trade relations of economic entities. Today resources, the level of their territorial dispersion and fragmentation, along with the actual location of productive forces and capacities, in many respects are determinants in the development of business and competitiveness of the economies of national states. Particular attention is paid to the development of both external interstate and internal national linear transportation networks, including rail, road and water transport. Combining the potentials of a number of continental countries, as well as the organization of technical and technological interaction between the participating countries with corporate use of resources, gives an undeniable advantage in achieving economic and social efficiency in the development of national states. This requires a comprehensive socio-economic author's assessment of the direct and indirect advantages and losses of the economic conjuncture of the Economic Union countries, Russia and China, as the main participants and organizers of creating conditions for a new economic order. The new economic order in the development of transport communications determines the implementation of a more effective mechanism for using the continental production resources of China, India, Iran and Russia, which are concentrated on the basis of inter-country corporatization of their use and objective advantageous location of national productive forces and consumer markets.

Forecasts of fog events in northern India dramatically improve when weather prediction models include irrigation effects

Dense wintertime fog regularly impacts Delhi, severely affecting road and rail transport, aviation and human health. Recent decades have seen an unexplained increase in fog events over northern India, coincident with a steep rise in wintertime irrigation associated with the introduction of double-cropping. Accurate fog forecasting is challenging due to a high sensitivity to numerous processes across many scales, and uncertainties in representing some of these in state-of-the-art numerical weather prediction models. Here we show fog event simulations over northern India with and without irrigation, revealing that irrigation counteracts a common model dry bias, dramatically improving the simulation of fog. Evaluation against satellite products and surface measurements reveals a better spatial extent and temporal evolution of the simulated fog events. Increased use of irrigation over northern India in winter provides a plausible explanation for the observed upward trend in fog events, highlighting the critical need for optimisation of irrigation practices.

Determination of demand for freight rail transportation. The relationship between the quality of transport services and demand

In the modern world, rail transport plays a huge role in ensuring the economic and social stability of the state. Due to its reliability, accessibility and safety, rail transport is able to meet the needs of a wide variety of population groups and sectors of the economy. One of the important aspects of the functioning of railway transport is its ability to provide efficient and high-quality cargo transportation services.In this regard, the purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between the demand for freight transportation and the level of service in the context of railway infrastructure. We rely on the non-price elasticity method to determine more precisely how changes in the quality of service can the demand for freight rail transportation.To achieve this goal, a number of tasks have been analyzed, such as analyzing the current state of railway transport, studying the possibilities of its growth and development, determining the current needs of the market and assessing the compliance of the services provided with these needs. In addition, the system of forecasting the demand for rail freight, based on the analysis of financial, economic and quantitative indicators, is considered. The first determine the capital costs of upgrading the current state of the infrastructure, focused on the repair and renewal of fixed assets. The latter determine the volume values of the cargo turnover and the average weight of the train. It is also necessary to develop a step-by-step methodology for determining the coefficient of non-price elasticity, to illustrate the dependence of demand for transportation on the level of quality of transport services.All this made it possible to determine how effective and expedient the existing cargo transportation service system is.The choice of this topic is due to the increasing need to increase the stability and reliability of railway transport, increase its accessibility and safety, as well as improve the quality of services provided. Thus, the identification of the relationship between the demand for rail freight and their quality based on the methodology of non-price elasticity contributes to the optimization of railway transport, improving its competitiveness, and stimulates the economic growth of the country.

Nine-Switch Multiport Converter Applied to Battery-Powered Tramway with Reduced Leakage Current

Electrically powered rail transport is constantly increasing in order to meet the high demand for people and cargo transportation, whether with high-speed trains, subways, suburban trains, or electric tramways. In these types of applications, power electronics solutions such as integrated and efficient converters with multiple functionalities are highly desirable. Among these converters, one family stands out for its ability to generating multiple output terminals with reduced number of switches, namely, the nine-switch converter. Therefore, this paper proposes a multiport converter solution based on the nine-switch converter topology that integrates multiple functionalities with a reduced switch count. The converter, responsible for the power drive of the electric tramway, is exclusively powered by a battery. Moreover, it presents a strategically connected passive filter that provides a low-impedance path for high-frequency currents, avoiding leakage of the current circulation in the induction motor. Its phase-shift pulse-width modulation is capable of reducing the high-frequency components of the current delivered by the battery. The energy storage system is designed to optimize the system capacity based on the known real load profile of a public tramway, with a maximum power of 532.1 kW. The control system is designed and applied considering the battery as the energy source. Simulations were performed in the Matlab/Simulink environment to validate the proposed system, along with experiments using a reduced-scale prototype controlled by the dSPACE platform. The results present the converter’s proper operation with integration of the source and AC load, presenting improved features compared with conventional solutions in terms of reduced leakage of the current circulation from the AC load and reduced battery current ripple.

Targeting the Effectiveness Assessment of the Emission Control Policies on the Shipping Industry

Compared to air, rail, and road transport, shipping is a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way to transport goods over a long distance. However, the unprecedented growth of global seaborne trade has had a significant impact on the environment. The process of shipping transportation, through exhaust gas, wastewater discharge, fuel leakage, etc., has caused very serious environmental pollution. In response to this issue, the International Maritime Organization introduced the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Convention to regulate the discharge of pollution from ships. Given that there are few studies discussing policy effectiveness, this study comprehensively considers and reviews the implementation effectiveness of all annexed policies under the MARPOL Convention. After discussing the differences between these policies based on the implementation conditions, requirements, strictness, and scope of adoption, the empirical analysis method of time-varying differences-in-differences model is adopted to analyze the policy effectiveness of each annex. It further puts forward suggestions and references for the formulation of effective maritime policies in the future that should be targeted, comprehensive, contingency-based, and proactive. This will help design or revise policies in the shipping industry, thereby promoting the early achievement of shipping emission reduction targets and contributing to the sustainability of the shipping industry.

Construction of environmental vibration prediction model for subway transportation based on machine learning algorithm and database technology

Vibrations generated in the metro transport environment are mainly caused by, vibrations generated by the interaction between the metro and the track during operation. and the change of vibration factors will affect the normal operation of the subway. However, it is difficult to have a model that can achieve the characteristics of high accuracy, fast computing speed and wide range of use in the traditional metro rail transportation environment prediction. Therefore, this research uses database theory and machine learning algorithms to predict the vibration of subway transportation environment. The experimental results show that the average difference between the whole prediction value and the real value is 1.4 dB, of which the maximum difference error value is 0.29%, the maximum error difference is 8.2%, and the approximate value is 6.2 dB, and the four averages predicted in 40 m are relatively small as 1.6 dB, and the average error value of prediction ability between 40 and 100 m is 1.72 dB, and the experimental prediction value and real value are in good agreement. The agreement between the experimental prediction and the real value is very good. Therefore, the model is able to predict the vibration model of the subway transportation environment with a high degree of agreement and accuracy.

Modelling operator control work across traffic management domains: implications for interaction design

Traffic management in aviation, shipping, and rail transport shows similarities and dissimilarities in the work process. For example, they share the temporal aspect, but different levels of urgency in the control work set different requirements on monitoring, decisions, and actions. However, few studies have been presented that model and compare the different domains in terms of temporal decision-making. The Joint Control Framework (JCF) is an approach to analyse and temporally model operators’ control processes from a cognitive systems engineering perspective. In this study, we have used JCF to map, and compare, cognitive joints, such as perceptions, decisions, and actions, in temporally challenging control situations in air traffic control, maritime vessel traffic service, and train traffic management. Data was collected collaboratively with traffic operators, focusing on (1) identifying challenging traffic situations and (2) jointly modelling the temporal decision-making patterns of these situations using simplified JCF. Post-analysis was done by breaking down the results into different processes and comparing domains to ascertain how operators maintain control. An intermediate level of activity—between general monitoring and work with specific vehicles—was identified: processes-in-focus. A shared problem arises in the shift between general monitoring and the processes-in-focus. All processes-in-focus comprise cognitive joint cycles of perceptions, decisions, and actions. However, depending on the framing of processes-in-focus, the patterns of joints, such as temporal extension and complexity, differ. In the remainder of the article, implications for the interaction design, in particular the potential for human–AI/automation teaming with higher levels of automation and cognitive autonomy, are discussed.

Sustainable transport – development and goals

Sustainable development is observed worldwide, and one of the most affected fields is the transport sector. Sustainability brings challenges that must be overcome to achieve high safety and comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By the end of 2030, United Nations members must achieve the assumed sustainability level. This paper investigates whether it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions completely, especially in the transport sector. The paper focuses on the challenges to obtaining a high sustainability level, as defined by the United Nations. The examples of sustainability in rail and road transport were analysed and described. Results show the benefits, concerns, and problems of the described solutions.

Consuming Royalty

Consuming Royalty

Nth-plant scenario for blended pellets of Miscanthus, Switchgrass, and Corn Stover using multi-modal transportation: Biorefineries and depots in the contiguous U.S.

The sustainability of the biofuel industry depends on the development of a mature conversion technology on a national level that can take advantage of the economies of scale: the nth-plant. This study addresses the logistic challenge of mobilizing national cellulosic feedstock supplies for a sustainable bioenergy industry. A Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model was developed and updated to deliver on-spec biomass that considers both a desired quantity and quality at the biorefinery. Our supply chain analysis includes multi-modal transport (truck and rail), varying depot and biorefinery sizes, and feedstock blends of corn stover (harvested by either a two- or three-pass method), switchgrass, and miscanthus. The following US states: Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Texas were identified as key locations for producing accessible miscanthus. Based on our most optimistic scenario, using trucks as the only transportation mode in 2040 with a cost target of $79/dt, corn stover, switchgrass, and miscanthus could help meet 48% of the EPA target, 173 million dry tons that translate into 7.8 billion GGE. The addition of rail transportation for biomass delivery to biorefineries could help meet 79% of the EPA target, 283 million dry tons that translate into 12.7 billion GGE.

ISSUES OF INCREASING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF RAIL FREIGHT TRANSPORT IN THE REGIONS OF SIBERIA AND THE FAR EAST

The purpose of the study is to identify the features of strategically important areas of development of the transport industry in Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation, to identify key barriers preventing an increase in the share of rail freight traffic in the total cargo base of the country, which allowed the authors to formulate some proposals aimed at improving the competitiveness of rail freight transport. To assess the availability of the potential for rail transport supplies and the possibility of its further increase, an analysis of the economic development of the region was carried out, which made it possible to identify key factors that have a significant impact on the development of individual industries, on the basis of which forecast values for attracting additional cargo to rail transport across the subjects of the Russian Federation for key sectors of the economy were compiled.

Design and Development of an Integrated Virtual-Reality Training Simulation Sand Table for Rail Systems

With the rapid development of the economy, it is imperative to improve the quality of training for operational and managerial talents in the railway industry. To address issues such as efficiency, safety, and cost in railway industry practical training, it is crucial to establish a more comprehensive and efficient high-value virtual–real integration simulation experimental training resource. Therefore, this paper takes the actual work process as the core driving force, utilizes advanced information technology and intelligent devices, and is based on the comprehensive training platform for automatic control of physical trains combined with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipment. It achieves the integration of hardware and software construction to design and develop a comprehensive simulation training sand table system that incorporates functions such as training, demonstration, testing, and experiments. This system builds an integrated platform for training simulation functions, capable of simulating a railway centralized traffic control system, enabling railway dispatching simulation, driving simulation, and inspection simulation experiences. Additionally, it designs experimental processes at three levels: cognition, practical operation, and enhancement, tailored to the needs of talent development. The rail transportation training simulation sand table effectively reduces training costs and enhances the practical ability training quality of railway operation management personnel, meeting the requirements for talent development in the railway and related industries under new circumstances.

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.