Railway Network Research Articles

Post-tensioning system as a strengthening solution for masonry arch bridges: numerical and experimental results

One of the most common bridge typologies in roadway and railway networks in Italy is the masonry arch bridge, typically built more than a hundred years ago. To keep these structures operatives with increasing traffic load, strengthening interventions are required in some cases. The solution investigated in this work is the external post-tensioning system, which consists of applying external loads to the arch by means of tensioned cables, resulting in a better configuration of internal forces. An experimental campaign was conducted on pre-damaged single span masonry arches by anchoring the cables to the intrados of the arch. The results of cyclic eccentric vertical load tests show an increase in displacement and load-carrying capacity. Numerical tests were performed to validate the experimental results using the rigid-block analysis method. The comparison between the experimental and numerical results is reported in terms of limit load capacity.

The effect of lifeline damage to other lifeline network: A past experience in Kobe and future perspective of interrelationship effect on road and railway networks.

The effect of lifeline damage to other lifeline network: A past experience in Kobe and future perspective of interrelationship effect on road and railway networks.

Determination of the appropriate option for the use of group trains

One of the target areas for the development of railway transport in modern conditions is to ensure the fulfillment of operational performance indicators that depend on the organization of the promotion of car flows. When determining the procedure for organizing car flows on the railway network, it is advisable to consider the existing features of the technical and operational characteristics of railway stations and sections, as well as the technology of their operation. The paper describes the procedure for determining the appropriate option for using group trains based on minimizing the costs that arise when organizing car flows into trains and their movement along the section.

An optimal study on logistics network of cross-border railway in inland areas considering time cost and benefit of scale of railway transportation

An optimal study on logistics network of cross-border railway in inland areas considering time cost and benefit of scale of railway transportation

Оценка уровня развития инфраструктурно-финансового потенциала агропродовольственных систем регионов Дальневосточного федерального округа

The leading factor in the balanced development of agro-food systems and the formation of favorable opportunities for the full-fledged food supply of the population is the infrastructural and financial potential, which determines the parameters of physical and economic accessibility of food in the regions. In a market economy, the state requires increased attention and increased support for the development of all areas of regional agri-food systems. This is especially true for the Far Eastern regions, whose agricultural sector operates in conditions of extreme climate, high cost of energy resources, high energy and labor intensity with an extremely underdeveloped transport and logistics infrastructure and a weak investment and financial component. A method of integrated assessment of the infrastructural and financial potential of agri-food systems (APS) is proposed and its interpretation is given in the context of regions. The most favorable conditions for the development of APS were formed in the regions of the first group (with satisfactory soil and climatic conditions), average –- in the regions of the second group (with extreme conditions), less favorable – in the regions of the third group (with very extreme conditions). The relatively high infrastructural and financial potential is in the Primorsky Territory, where the network of roads and railways is much better developed, the financial and investment performance of agribusiness is more prosperous. The development of infrastructure significantly determines the ability of regions to provide food to the population, especially those products that have to be imported due to the lack of local production. The necessity of developing comprehensive state measures to increase the level of infrastructure and financial and investment potentials for the balanced development of agro-food systems in the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District was confirmed and the main directions for solving the identified problems were proposed.

Technical capabilities and safe use of mobile communications 6G in railway transport

The purpose of the study is to describe the technical capabilities and promising approach to the safe use of 6G mobile communications in railway transport. The study used risk management methods in railway transport in accordance with international experience. As a result of the study, information about future 6G networks was systematized, the advantages of their specific technical characteristics over 5G networks were demonstrated, and methods were proposed to ensure the safety and security of information messages transmitted in railway telecommunication networks. In the context of the technical description of 6G networks, the following issues are considered: assessing the quality of services provided (including using indicators of the quality of human physical experience), the use of radio frequencies and combating multipath propagation of signals (based on more advanced methods of multiple access and filtering), the use of more effective modulation and channel coding methods, development of antenna array technology with multiple transmitting and receiving antennas and the use of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, functional network architecture (based on software-defined networks and network functions virtualization) and its physical implementation (through the construction of a space-terrestrial integrated network), the use of a new internet protocol (covering several levels of interconnection). In the context of ensuring the safety and security of transmitted information messages, the issues of identifying threats and possible countermeasures by implementing additional settings and functions of safety and security 6G networks are considered. The proposed approach allows us to justify the safe use of 6G mobile communications in railway transport.

A Bilevel Programming Model for Designing a Collaborative Network for Regional Railway Transportation and Logistics: The Case of the Beijing‐Tianjin‐Hebei Region in China

For the coordinated development of regional logistics, there is a need to break down the administrative barriers between cities and build an efficient and smooth regional logistics network. Integrating regional logistics resources to achieve cross‐regional optimal allocation is essential for efficient logistics networks. The accessibility and high capacity of the railway transportation network make it possible and necessary for the coordinated construction of railway transportation and logistics networks. This paper studies a bilevel programming model to analyse the collaborative network planning process of railway transportation and logistics. The objective is to take into account the existing layout of regional railway traffic network and the future needs of regional logistics. For the upper level of the bilevel programming model, the social, economic, and logistics service index of regional railway traffic nodes is considered to determine the numbers and locations of radiation of the cities. Meanwhile, the lower programming model uses a logistics gravity model, 0‐1 integer programming model, and logistics membership degree to calculate the logistics correlation between node cities and the radiation range of the hub cities. An empirical study of the Beijing‐Tianjin‐Hebei region in China shows the process and effectiveness of the bilevel programming model. Four distinctive logistics radiation circles, five trunk lines, nine hub‐spoke branch lines, and six branch lines are suggested. A railway traffic‐oriented regional logistics network provides a reference for regional railway traffic planning, thereby optimizing the allocation of regional logistics resources, improving the level of regional logistics services, and contributing to the development of the regional logistics industry.

Structural health assessment through continuous vibration-based monitoring of a stainless-steel lattened in-operation railway bridge

Damage detection in railway bridges is challenging due to changing environmental and operational conditions. Advanced monitoring techniques, such as operational modal analysis (OMA), use vibration to assess the integrity of structures during their operational life. Cov-SSI, a time-based OMA algorithm, is widely used for the automatic identification of system dynamics. Static modelling is essential to separate variability from benign effects and ensure accurate monitoring. Monitoring the health of the structure through control charts highlights damages that influence the dynamic response. This study focuses on the continuous monitoring of railway bridge networks using advanced methods such as MOVA and MOSS. In particular, this work is part of a research project dedicated to the continuous monitoring of a real bridge in operation: the Quisi Viaduct in Alicante (Spain). The viaduct is a stainless steel single-span bolted railway bridge, built at the beginning of the 20th century. The viaduct is equipped with a set of high-sensitivity accelerometers and a dense network of deformation sensors that store a compendium of data of approximately 3 years. This contribution discusses the quality of the data sets and the monitoring strategy, with a focus on the effectiveness of using statistical process control charts to assess the structural health of railway bridges.

Critical Spatial-Temporal Node Identification for a High-Speed Railway Network: A Cascading Delay Perspective

Critical Spatial-Temporal Node Identification for a High-Speed Railway Network: A Cascading Delay Perspective

Security Enhanced Authentication Protocol for Space-Ground Integrated Railway Networks

Security Enhanced Authentication Protocol for Space-Ground Integrated Railway Networks

Distributed Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Power Control and Device Access for High-Speed Railway Networks with Symbiotic Radios

Distributed Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Power Control and Device Access for High-Speed Railway Networks with Symbiotic Radios

Measuring the Accessibility of the Railway Network with the Possibilities of Increasing the Attractiveness of Railway Transport

The accessibility of the railway network represents an important factor in the choice of public transport compared to individual transport. Rail transport should represent the basic framework of public transport, while associated forms of transport such as cycling or walking would complement it. Acceptable accessibility and optimization of spatial as well as temporal accessibility is an important decision element in the choice of public transport. The time value plays an important role in analysing the use of public transport. In this article we deal with the specific methods for accessibility evaluation that are based on analysis of municipalities and correct location of railway stations, stops as well as transfer terminals. The analysis took into account isochronous maps of the analysed area of selected cities within the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Selected methods are applied on different railway lines according to their purpose, because accessibility of regional and long-haul trains should be evaluated differently. For the given calculation of the individual time availability areas, the number of inhabitants who have access to rail transport was determined, while the average number of inhabitants in one housing unit served as an indicator. The potential of passengers in long-distance trains for use in public transport was set as result to restore and increase the competitiveness of rail transport.

Impact of daily and seasonal temperature variation on rolling contact fatigue damage in the rail

Rolling contact fatigue is the most frequent degradation mode observed on the rail. Many mechanical studies have revealed the main physical parameters that generate the crack initiation, which are all linked with the track geometry, the dynamic of the wheel and contact conditions. Except for extreme climate, exogenous phenomena such as ambient temperature have not been analysed. The main reason is that temperature variations induce stress cycles in the rail that are under the endurance limit of the material. Therefore, most fatigue life estimation methods do not consider these cycles. In this paper, 6 years of daily temperature measurement over all the French railway network are used and integrated in a machine learning model developed for computing residual lifespan of each rail segment before crack initiation by rolling contact fatigue. Temperature data are aggregated using the continuum damage mechanics model developed by Lemaitre and Chaboche that gives the possibility to let low amplitude cycles to contribute to fatigue damage. Classification models are then implemented, and importance variables are finally quantifed. Results show that daily temperature variations have more impact than seasonal variations and that its contribution to fatigue is significant.

Enhancing RCF rail defect inspection on the Serbian railway network

The interaction between the wheel and the running rails within the railway system introduces intricate stress patterns, resulting in the formation of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) rail defects. The magnitude of this stress is contingent upon factors such as track performance, vehicle characteristics, and service conditions. While advancements in rail metallurgy can mitigate the issue to some extent, no economically viable steel composition currently exists that can completely withstand the repetitive stresses associated with RCF. It is more cost-effective to properly maintain rails for longer use rather than replace them entirely. The paper emphasizes the importance of classifying and coding RCF rail defects in light of their potential adverse effects on rail transport safety. It provides an analysis of the available inspection methods for RCF rail defects and recommends the ones that should be implemented on the Serbian railway network. A combination of proposed inspection methods is preferred to increase detection efficiency for different types of RCF defects.

Сухой порт Екатеринбург — основа новой транспортно-логистической архитектуры Российской Федерации

The article is an overview on the bases of the analyses of scientific literary sources and the materials of several round tables dedicated to the problems of the infrastructural project “Dry Port Ekaterinburg” development. The project potentials, advantages, and problems have been formulated. The problem of complexed formation of railway networks in the Ural-Arctic area aimed to create strategic railway facilities which would provide the system of way-outs to the North Sea Rout has been considered. The main idea - transport logistics architecture of the country should be changed under a complex approach for the development of different level territories and guarantee transport sovereignty of Russian Federation. The project “Dry Port Ekaterinburg” is becoming an important step of this change.

Research on Medium Capacity Rail System: Case on Pham Van Dong Route in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This paper delves into the study and proposition of a Medium Capacity Rail System (MCS) model to tackle urban traffic issues, both in the immediate future and, more specifically, the public transportation challenges along the Pham Van Dong (PVD) route. Drawing from statistical surveys and an in-depth analysis of motorcycle traffic patterns at intersections during near-peak and peak hours in the morning and afternoon along PVD’s main artery in the northeastern part of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. Moreover, this research explores the relatively new concept of MCS, which have gained traction in recent years due to their distinct advantages over existing systems. The findings in this article underscore the practicality of the proposal and provide a blueprint for sustainable, integrated urban transport development, improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, reduce environmental pollution and enhance a complete and modern urban railway network for Ho Chi Minh City or other similar global scenarios.

Comparison of the Process of Public Tender and Direct Award in Rail Passenger Transport in Slovakia

European member states have been opening to competition in passenger rail transport in recent years, while others are still on the road to liberalization. The European Commission has decided to address the significant decline in rail transport performance through its competitiveness and sustainable development policy. The most important can be considered the removal of barriers, harmonization, and harmonization of standards. Finally, it is a process of liberalization, the aim of which is to ensure non-discriminatory access to the railway network for other carriers (national and private) from any member state, as well as to make the functioning of the existing monopoly more accessible. railway companies more efficiently. The article is focused on a comparison of the form of concluding contracts for transport performance in the public interest in railway passenger transport in the Slovak Republic. The article describes the process of concluding contracts for transport services in the public interest in the form of direct assignment and in the form of a public tender. The comparison of the public tender process and direct submission is applied for the line Bratislava - Dunajská Streda - Komárno. The requirements of direct awarding and public tendering are compared, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the criteria for evaluating bids in public tendering or in the case of direct awarding. Four indicators that influence this process are also compared.

Rails and responsibilities: Perspectives of railroad police officers in China

Abstract In policing practices, railway policing has an essential role to ensure the public security of extensive railway network. However, limited attention has been given to understanding the perspectives of police officers involved in this specialized field. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the perspectives of railway police officers. Through in-depth interviews with 31 railway police officers from different regions, this research examines their experiences, challenges, and perceptions regarding their roles and responsibilities. The findings reveal that conflicts of interest within the railway police department pose potential risks to its internal cohesion. These officers used different strategies for response to violent attacks in ordinary and high-speed trains, highlighted instances of avoidance of duties due to internal conflicts, suggesting deficiencies in the evaluation mechanism employed. This study not only contributes to our understanding of railway policing in China but also provides insights for global railway policing and criminal investigation coordination.

Bi-Directional Delay Propagation Analysis and Modeling for High-Speed Railway Networks Under Disturbance

Bi-Directional Delay Propagation Analysis and Modeling for High-Speed Railway Networks Under Disturbance

Документы Российского государственного архива экономики о торговом обслуживании железнодорожников в 1950-е гг.

Based on the analysis of a set of archival documents reflecting the activities of departmental trade management bodies in railway transport, the article examines the key areas of organization of trade services for Soviet railway workers in the 1950s. Despite the existence of separate works on the history of domestic trade and railway infrastructure, carried out at the all-Union, republican and regional levels, taking into account modern achievements of historical science and the development of the source base, the issues of the activities of departments and departments of working supply in terms of managing the work of railway trade enterprises still remain unexplored. The choice of the chronological framework of the conducted research is due to several circumstances. Firstly, by the mid-1950s, the stage of post-war reconstruction of domestic railway transport and its infrastructure was coming to an end. Secondly, in the second half of the 1950s, the active modernization of the industry began, caused by the urgent needs of the country's economic development. The main source for the study of the stated topic are archival documents reflecting the specifics of management activities for the organization of trade in railway transport. The authors of the article identified documentary materials in the 1884 fund (Ministry of Railways of the USSR) of the Russian State Archive of Economics, presented by administrative acts of the Main Directorate of Workers' Supply. They reveal the specifics of the transport trade, the nature of the measures taken to improve the quality of customer service. Geographically, the administration of departmental trade was carried out on the entire railway network of the USSR. Based on the analysis of the contents of these documents, a range of problems that had to be solved by management structures in order to ensure the effective functioning of trading enterprises is presented. Archival documents quite objectively highlight the situation in the transport trade. The accounting documents of the planning and economic divisions of the industry contain valuable statistical data on the number of trading enterprises, the contingent of their employees and the volume of trade turnover. Their introduction into scientific circulation will contribute to a reliable reflection of the role of sectoral social policy designed to create decent working and living conditions for employees as the most important factor stimulating the conscientious performance of professional duties.