Railway Line Research Articles

Construction phases assessment for a railway tunnel

Major geotechnical issues related with tunnel construction phases are addressed. Focusing on an excavation scenario with reinforced concrete retaining walls in prevailing clayey soils, locally including sandy and silty-sandy layers, this study explores both drained and undrained conditions and considers various boundary conditions. Using the Finite Element (FE) method, a construction stage analysis of a tunnel located in the alluvial deposits of the Po Plain (northern Italy) in an urban area is carried out. This tunnel will serve the burying works of the Ferrara-Codigoro railway line, which are still underway. Based on hydrogeological conditions, the developed models take alternatively account of: (1) drained conditions with horizontal water table; (2) drained conditions with sloping water table (due to differences in water table depth between tunnel location and surrounding territories), and (3) undrained conditions with horizontal water table. Further complexity is introduced by incorporating buildings with either rigid or deformable foundations into the FE model. The fundamental role played by the boundary conditions is emphasized. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the exact sequence of construction phases and a good knowledge of the subsoil hydrogeological conditions result to be of utmost importance to capture induced settlements.

Сравнение систем тягового электроснабжения 25 кВ и 2×25 кВ на участке с односторонним питанием без учета индуктивных сопротивлений тяговой сети

Taking into account the reorientation to new markets, the choice of a traction power supply system for the electrification of railway lines is becoming particularly relevant. In Russia, a 25 kV single-phase alternating current system and a 2ґ25 kV alternating current system are considered preferable. Both of them have some advantages and disadvantages that affect their further maintenance and the cost of electrification. The article provides a technical and economic comparison of 25 kV and 2ґ25 kV alternating current systems. It also proposes the methodology that allows them to be compared according to the given costs, and presents an example of calculation with some assumptions.

Research on Big Data and Urban Agglomeration Development in High-Speed Railway

The introduction of high-speed railway has significantly enhanced transportation services for cities along its route, offering greater convenience to passengers and commuters. Through analysis of passenger flow data and economic data from cities along the high-speed railway line, we find the apparent siphon effect caused by the introduction of high-speed railway on larger cities. However, for medium and small cities, high-speed railway further weakens their attractiveness, leading to capital and labour outflow. This article provides an analysis of the impact of high-speed railway on cities along its route, utilizing passenger big data and investment data. It also offers recommendations for small and medium-sized cities to optimize their tourism resources and develop unique industries, aiming to mitigate the economic risks associated with the introduction of high-speed railway.

Russian Joint-Stock Companies and Trading Houses in Manchuria From the Late 19th to the Early 20th Century

Russian trading firms had already been operating in southeastern China by the second half of the nineteenth century. The Russian government’s development policy for the Far East, which was strongly advocated by the then minister of finance Sergei Witte, prompted construction of the Siberian railway line, one trunk of which was the Chinese Eastern Railway (KVZD). This railroad was then instrumental in forming a free economic zone in Manchuria where Russia’s new economic model that supported entrepreneurship could be tested. However, the activities of the Russian colony in Manchuria were confined to the right of way of the KVZD and to certain cities of little commercial interest. As a result, the companies established to extract minerals and develop industry and trade remained relatively small in both their capitalization and financial results. However, economic development of this territory continued despite Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese war and stopped only after the First World War began. The final blow came when Russian businessmen were forced to liquidate their businesses. The trading houses and companies owned by Russian entrepreneurs gradually became property of Chinese, Japanese and European owners. This article gives an account of the operations of Russian joint-stock companies and trading houses established in Manchuria at the end of the nineteenth century through the beginning of the twentieth and indicates the role those firms played in the development of the region. The research analyzed archival sources from the Russian State Historical Archive (RSHA) and statistical reference works along with preRevolutionary and modern scholarly literature.

Automated Monitoring and Emergency Response System for Sensitive Areas Along High-Speed Railway Lines

The safety of high-speed railroads is an important indicator of travelers’ trust, and it is also an important factor in determining whether or not the operation volume can reach the expected goal. Therefore, high-speed railroad companies in Europe, the United States, and Japan have invested heavily in establishing safety monitoring systems in order to avoid the occurrence of disasters and to strengthen the mechanism of crisis response and emergency treatment. High-speed railroad operation may occur in a variety of accidents, different disaster warning, emergency response and rescue, need to have different equipment, contingency measures, and well-trained personnel to deal with. Therefore, the safety standards for high-speed rail systems in advanced countries around the world are much higher than those for traditional train systems. The theories and technologies of disaster prevention and relief have matured both at home and abroad. This study combines the theories and technologies of disaster prevention with GIS, such as monitoring instruments, satellite positioning, remote sensing detection, radio transmission, the Internet, database management, and information management, to provide effective support for decision-making and analysis of commanders, to rapidly assist in crisis management, and to strengthen the mechanism of emergency response.

200 years of solar electricity

Two hundred years after Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect, solar panels have become an everyday technology, to be found on the roofs of houses or alongside railway lines. However, this apparent familiarity conceals the rapid and on going development of the industry: the panels installed today are very different from those installed just a few years ago, in terms of design, cost and the challenges to be met. Photovoltaics has now established itself as a key player in the global energy landscape, and its dynamism means that we need to keep a close eye on developments. The purpose of this article is to take stock of the current state of the industry, presenting typical orders of magnitude, the dynamics of the sector and future prospects. It can be supplemented by questions and answers prepared by researchers in the field and available at https://solairepv.fr/.

Famous places along the Keifuku Electric Railway line in the prewar period as depicted in Hatsusaburo Yoshida's style bird's eye view map

Famous places along the Keifuku Electric Railway line in the prewar period as depicted in Hatsusaburo Yoshida's style bird's eye view map

Hydrotechnical assessment of the flow of the Hnilec river in the town of Gelnica

It is important to develop a hydrotechnical assessment of the existing habitat in the river system for potential proposals for flood protection solutions. The basic factors in the assessment are accurate and up- to-date geodetic assessment, terrain reconnaissance, history of the area and hydrological data necessary for the calculation. In the past, minor improvements to the banks of the Hnilec River were conducted in the vicinity of the town of Gelnica, but these were not large-scale improvements to the entire riverbed. A plausible reason for the non-implementation of large-scale modifications is the dense construction of dwellings in close proximity to the riverbed, the confluence of the railway line with the river and road bridges. The objective of the assessment is the evaluation of critical sections, description of threats in the treated area and the possibility of pointing out the improvement of hydrotechnical parameters to mitigate flood conditions. If it will not be possible to apply flood defence measures in the town residential area, it is necessary to point out another potential solution.

Расчет полных сопротивлений тяговой сети систем электроснабжения 25 кВ и 2×25 кВ

Nowadays 25.7 thousand km of railway lines of the Russian Federation have been electrified using a single-phase alternating current system of industrial frequency with a voltage of 25 kV. Conditions of constant growth of cargo turnover explain the relevance of the issue of strengthening traction power supply systems, including alternating current, as well as shaping the direction of their further technical development. Thus, an urgent task is to develop a methodology for determining the parameters of 25 kV and 2ґ25 kV AC traction power supply systems, taking into account the use of reinforcing wires. The article discusses the methodology and sequence of calculating the resistance of traction network elements for the two specified systems, and presents the calculation results for the applied wire grades.

Nutcracker Deformation Of Arch Bridge In Consequence Of Slow Gravitational Slope Deformations

Italy is a geologically young territory and still subject to tectonic actions and orogenic thrusts, originating a significant and continuous geomorphological evolution. This is expressed both by landslides and by phenomena of slow deformation of the slopes. These are sometimes seemingly imperceptible deformations, which however can potentially lead to long-term damage to infrastructure, as for the case of the famous Lagonegro bridge. Very small deformations that modern technologies allow us to objectively document and monitor by satellite images. These images, when appropriately analyzed and elaborated, contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of territory.This work presents a set of cases related to arch bridges deformed by slow but continuous thrusts linked to gravitational phenomena which give rise to compressive deformations of the abutments which can give rise to deformations of the bridges which can be defined as "nutcracker". In this work, a roundup of Italian examples of how slow gravitational slope deformations can lead to the collapse of bridges is reported. It is also presented a preliminary investigation on bridge deformation based on satellite techniques. It is briefly presented the case of Albiano-Magra bridge in Tuscany, which collapsed in April 2020, and the case of the Lagonegro bridge which was dismissed since 1952. Other cases presented are the former FFSS 12-arch bridge of the old Paola Cosenza railway line, cases of masonry arch bridges in Basilicata along provincial roads 154 and 103 in the province of Matera and the case of the former FAL bridge of Cassano to the Ionian Sea in the province of Cosenza. These are all examples of how slow deformations can affect arch bridges creating the condition for the failure or for the final compromission of the bridge.

Deep Reinforcement Learning for Integration of Train Trajectory Optimization and Timetable Rescheduling Under Disturbances.

High-speed trains are susceptible to unexpected events such as strong winds and equipment failures, which can result in deviations from the scheduled timetable. As the density of traffic increases, these delays can quickly spread to other trains, eventually leading to conflicts in the timetable. To ensure the efficiency of high-speed railways, quickly resolving potential conflicts and generating appropriate rescheduling schemes are essential. The existing hierarchical structure of train control and online rescheduling tends to be inefficient in terms of information communication and can even lead to unfeasible rescheduled timetables and trajectories. To address these issues, an integrated structure of timetable rescheduling and train trajectory optimization is proposed by introducing the train minimum running time into the process of timetable rescheduling and using the adjusted running time as the objective of trajectory optimization. The integration model is formulated by considering the constraints of timetable rescheduling such as the maximum number of trains overtaking trains, platforms at stations, and the priority of the train, as well as the constraints of trajectory optimization. A deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based approach is proposed to solve the problem. Numerical experiments are conducted on a segment of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway line, using adapted data to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in rescheduling timetables and optimizing train trajectories. The results show that the integrated rescheduled timetable and the optimized train trajectory can be generated simultaneously and the computation time exhibits a linear increase with respect to the size of the problem.

Analysis of the Subsidence Evolution Characteristics of Existing Railway Lines Due to Surface Subsidence from Salt Cavern Gas Storage Facilities

The railway subgrade is a crucial component of the railway transportation system and serves as the foundation for the normal operation of the railway. Uneven subsidence of the railway subgrade is an important factor affecting the safety of train operations. In areas surrounding salt cavern gas storage facilities, subsidence caused by underground engineering can pose a threat to the safe operation of nearby railways. Through finite element numerical simulations, this study reveals the dynamic characteristics of cavity contraction and surface subsidence in salt cavern gas storage facilities under long-term operational conditions. These conclusions emphasize the complexity and long-term impacts of surface subsidence during the operation of salt cavern gas storage, providing important references for the safe operation of these facilities.

Sheet pile walls as a part of the substructure of bridges. Practical application in Denmark

The usage of “sheet pile wall” is very common solution in Denmark due to the geographic situation of the country – low sea level, a significant part of the state border is sea, high groundwater level, poor geotechnical conditions. The “sheet pile wall” is used for strengthening of embankments, reclaim marine territories and as a supporting walls of railway lines and roads. As a consequence of this, a very common solution is to use the sheet pile walls as a part of the substructure of bridges – overpasses of railway lines and roads when the alignment is in excavation. From one side, the “sheet pile wall” are used as wing walls of the bridge and they support the road embankment. From another side, it is used as an abutment walls of the bridge. The part of the wall acting as a bridge support is design with some concrete “hammer beam”. The “hammer” in some cases is connected to the bridge deck by means of concrete hinges. Very often, “sheet pile wall” in the zone of the wing walls is combined with anchors in order to take increased section forces. Common variants in Denmark practice for connection of the bridge superstructure and sheet pile substructure are presented and analysed in the paper.

Issues for the Introduction of Hydrogen-Powered Rail Vehicles on Hungarian Regional Railway Lines Through an Example from Germany

The research provides an answer for the introduction of a hydrogen rail system in Hungary, based on an ongoing project in Germany. The research will provide a solution for a more sustainable replacement of the rail branch line services, which currently generates significant emissions. The research also takes into account the important issues of energy trade, i.e. the unpredictable wind and solar energy storage in the summer months. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that it describes the situation of the Hungarian branch line railway infrastructure on the one hand and the problem of storage and use of renewable and surplus seasonal energy in Hungary on the other hand. The study compares the CO2 emissions of three selected regional railway areas in Hungary with the amount of hydrogen consumption on the same line. The current level of hydrogen production in Hungary at the national level and in the regions under study was determined.

Participation of "Localists" in the boundary area between residents and professionals in the development of the railway line

Participation of "Localists" in the boundary area between residents and professionals in the development of the railway line

Disaster Profile and Response in Urban Informal Settlement of Mathare, Nairobi County, Kenya

Disaster is an event that kills 10 or more people or leaves at least 100 people injured, homeless, displaced or evacuated. In extreme cases, these calamities usually impact negatively on the community and disrupt people’s normal living. Kenya’s informal areas are disaster prone due to households living under high voltage transmissions lines, railway line reserves, pipeline reserves, quarries and landfills, riparian reserves and others adjacent to heavy industrial activities. This dogma of urbanization calls for the need to address the planning needs of slums and informal settlements and making cities work for the urban poor entangled in these poverty and disaster traps. The study objective is to evaluate disaster types, causes, response and mitigation strategies in Mathare slums, Nairobi county, Kenya. Retrospective study design was employed on six purposefully sampled key informants. Interviews and focused group discussion were used in data collection. The period of study was from January to December 2023. The study site was Mathare slum, Nairobi County, Kenya. Statistics of disaster victims and response were derived from local government administrator office records. According to data from the local administration office, the period of January to December 2023 recorded eight disasters. There were four cases of fire that raged down households and businesses in Mathare affecting a total of 199 households. Illegal electricity, negligence and arson attacks were identified as causes of fire disaster. Two cases of landslides were recorded that affected six households, two victims were injured but there was no mortality. Illegal structures built on and under the cliffs with no foundation and pillars have been identified as contributor of landslides in Mathare. There were two flood disasters that affected 1500 households with zero mortality. House structures built on riparian land, on drainage ducts and along riverbanks are the main contributors of floods. The study recommends that The government and partners should invest in educating residents on disaster prevention. Relevant government authorities should inspect and approve construction of buildings in Mathare. Arrest and prosecute of arsonists and educate them against the vice. Government to construct and unclog drainage to manage rain water. Demolish illegal structures along the roads to create access in emergency response. Government and partners to set up disaster and relief coordination center in Mathare.

The Importance of Rail Transport for Transport Services in Peripheral Areas

Abstract This article focuses on the evaluation of the importance of passenger rail transport for transport services in peripheral areas. The term peripheral area is defined, and the different types of peripheral areas and their characteristics are listed. Based on the analysis of these areas in the Czech Republic, the authors generally divide passenger rail transport services in peripheral areas into three categories according to the route of the railway line within the peripheral areas and towards the centre. The authors set out the most important criteria to assess the importance of individual line categories for transport services in peripheral areas. Based on the SWOT analysis and using the TOWS matrix, specific strategies and proposals are presented to address passenger rail services in the peripheral area. The aim of this article is to evaluate the importance of rail transport in peripheral areas using the criteria selected by the authors.

Priština: od varošice do grada (1929-1941)

Priština, within the Gračanica county, belonged to the Vardar Banovina. Based on the population census in 1931, it was one of the largest cities in Southern Serbia. However, at the beginning of the thirties of the 20th century, it was an underdeveloped town that needed state investments. The Yugoslav state made efforts to modernize Priština, as well as other cities in Kosovo and Metohija. Investments were made in construction, so nine buildings were built in Priština, electric lighting was introduced, streets and roads were improved. The railway line Kosovo Polje - Priština was built. However, even during attempts at modernization, there were problems, especially with members of the Albanian population, who were in the majority in this area, and who were uninterested in Yugoslav state measures or were afraid of changes. There were industrial companies in Priština, and an automatic mill was built. Trade showed signs of improvement, although like other industries, it was difficult to tear people away from the way they had worked generations before. Craftsmanship, which was traditional in Kosovo and Metohija, was stagnating in Priština, which was evident in the number of commercial, catering and craft shops, primarily because it began to develop as an economic center. Educational and health opportunities were in the beginning of development. In the Priština district, there were the fewest buildings that corresponded to the school’s needs, and the teaching staff was not adequate either. The conditions for the modernization of education were generally difficult in the area of Kosovo and Metohija. The arrangement of health conditions was of indisputable importance for the population of Kosovo and Metohija. Banovina Hospital was built in Priština, which was one of the largest, but people’s awareness of going to the doctor was low. The efforts and investments of the Yugoslav state in the area of Kosovo and Metohija, and therefore Priština as an economic center in development, were interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War.

Economic impact analysis of developing the JR Haneda Airport Access Line

The East Japan Railway Company is planning a new access railway line to the Tokyo International (Haneda) Airport. This paper proposes an evaluation method for the development of the new airport access line considering the socioeconomic characteristics of the Greater Tokyo Area and indicates what is needed to increase its social value. As the evaluation method, we develop an econometric model that considers commuters’ trip behaviors across prefectures and the relationship between the increased number of Meeting, Incentive Travel, Convention, Exhibition and Event (MICE) visitors and the regional economy. We also conduct a simulation analysis using an empirical econometric model and a cost-effectiveness analysis based on multiple scenarios. The results indicate that a 50% increase in MICE visitors is needed to make the present discounted value of the total increase in the gross regional product larger than the construction cost of the line.

한국 철도 노선명 및 역명 제정 기준의 현황과 개선 방안

Railroad lines and stations are not just physical spaces, but representations of local and regional identities, geographic information for social information communication, and important operational tools related to safety and speed for facility management and operators. Frequent complaints over the recent establishment of railway station names not only show public interest in railroad-related nominations, but also call for efforts for standardization of geographical names and rational improvement of route names and station names based on the establishment of standards. The researcher diagnosed the limitations and development tasks of the current guidelines based on the principles and recommendations of the UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names and the National Geographical Name Committee based on the correct terminology based on the law and the clarification of key concepts open to implicit interpretation, and proposed ways to improve the standards for establishing railway line names and station names. The improvement measures are summarized as follows. First, the naming of the railway lines follows the combination of the representative administrative name of the departure area and the destination area. However, along with these official line names, facility managers and operators can use the name of the station by naming method using the railway line type classification system or a combination of alphabets and Arabic numbers to promote the safety and speed of management and operation. Second, the naming of a station uses only the name of the representative administrative district where the station building is located. In a station building that spans two or more administrative districts, two or more administrative names can be consecutively used to those naming, but in this case, the name of the administrative district corresponding to the representative address shall be prioritized. Third, other improvements include the following: In principle, the standards for naming of railway lines and stations to be improved in the future should not be applied retroactively, the revision of the station name once rejected should not be allowed to be re-appointed as a future agenda, and caution against social exclusion, such as nominations for specific persons or commercial purposes, or names that can be linked to the economic interests of specific subjects.