Railway Services Research Articles

Travelers’ Propensity to Use Intercity Railway Services in Emerging Economies: Significance of Passengers’ Satisfaction and Communication Technologies

This paper focuses on the perspectives of passengers who were railway users and how railways as a service can be uplifted with technological advancements through the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs). For this purpose, a questionnaire was designed comprised of six sections related to information on socio-economic-demographics, travel, station facilities, train facilities, customer care, and familiarity with and benefits of ICTs. A total of 800 respondents were recruited on trains and in railway stations to collect data through a random sampling technique. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, factor analysis, bivariate correlation analysis, and ordered logistic regression analysis. The three hypotheses tested showed that (i) there is a correlation between socio-demographic factors, train frequency, and satisfaction levels, (ii) satisfaction with station and train facilities and customer care impacts users’ travel likelihood with the train service, and (iii) users’ familiarity with perceived benefits of ICTs influences passengers’ travel likelihood with the train service. The results indicate that the users’ satisfaction with attributes of station facilities, train facilities, and customer care and perceptions about ICTs significantly influences their travel frequency with the train service. This study is useful for multiple stakeholders, especially for railway management authorities, to provide inclusive services to passengers and to plan for future transportation, which should be well-equipped with ICTs, well-integrated with other transport modes, and well-connected with optimum stops.

Demand study of freight transportation via railway of four commodity groups: A case study on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast Route

Having railway mobility as an option among transportation modes is of prime importance for the freight logistics of a country and the overall performance of its commerce sector. This work presents a case study in Costa Rica, where freight transportation via railway was formerly available during the last century but has not been in full service since 1995. Specifically, this paper assesses the link connecting the capital city of San Jose to the port of Caldera on the Pacific Ocean coast, henceforth referred to as the “Pacific Coast Route”. Although government institutions and industries alike have stressed the importance of its reactivation in recent years, few efforts have been made to specifically study this route with a level of detail that enables them to understand the composition of freight markets.This study presents a novel demand estimation differentiated by four types of commodities developed to calculate the potential amount of goods that could flow through this corridor, measured in monetary terms and as volumes. Trends in the expected share were analyzed to identify variables that may improve the attractiveness of the railway service and the participation of clients along the route from the country's main economic activities which includes the following: agriculture & livestock, manufacturing, minerals, and forestry.The four-step transportation model was chosen for its suitability towards this case study; where available data sets were limited, the information was aggregated into yearly values, and the network was defined with few transportation zones. Activity-based models were not feasible in this case due to the lack of information on complete routes and volume flows. The model evaluated a first scenario given the present design of the route and a second scenario involving improvements in the alignment and the addition of a new segment.Regarding the opportunities of moving goods according to their type, in terms of volume, minerals (48 %) and agricultural (31 %) have the largest shares of participation in this region, followed by manufacturing (20 %) and forestry products (1 %). However, the manufacturing sector stands out in financial terms, accounting for 71 % of the total value of goods mobilized in the study area.It was found that the demand is most sensible for changes in the service fare, while the benefits of shorter travel times and a larger attraction area in scenario 2 were not significant. A service fee of $USD 2.35/ton in average is recommended to reach a 30 % modal shift towards the railway (following the European Commission's goals to reduce CO2 emissions from freight transportation in 2030).Finally, recommendations for public policies are provided to the entities in the country in the sectors of Agriculture, Health, Energy and Environment, Transportation, and Public Services. The suggestions aim to develop the new railway project with a holistic perspective, considering the inclusion of less profitable economic activities of the surrounding communities that require connectivity, compliance with environmental commitments, and design for resilience while aiming for a financially feasible business model.

Evaluation of Indian Railway’s Supply Chain Parameters for Improved Sustainability Under Industry 4.0 Transformation: An Application of AHP and TOPSIS

Indian Railways (IR) is India’s major public transportation system and one of the world’s largest and busiest rail networks. The Indian government is in charge of owning and running it. This paper presents an alternative approach to measuring the overall operational performance of the Indian Railway supply chain. The operation of Indian railways from a supply chain perspective needs to be analyzed to improve customer service and inventory management.Industry 4.0 is used for the easy processing of individual transportation components efficiently and safely. The study is useful for the Indian Railways because it enables the classification of various issues related to government procurement. A supply chain model is proposed to assess service expectations and quality. Various issues (such as the integration system, financial behavior, and management perspective) related to supply chain management have been identified, and various factors affecting availability, railway service quality, and reliability have been analyzed for managing its supply chain. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and TOPSIS have been used to examine inventory-related difficulties and make recommendations for the public procurement environment. The result of the AHP method showed that Model 1 (Integration System) has the highest Max_C_weight of 0.5348, followed by Model 2 (Financial Behavior, 0.381695) and Model 3 (Management Perspective, 0.399443). The consistency ratio (CR) for all three models was also less than 0.1. Further, the TOPSIS method was used to validate the accuracy of AHP results and found that the model is significant. This result will help the decision-makers at Indian Railways design an assessment and relationship management model that will help them make procurement the driving force behind their supply chain.As per COP27, Industry 4.0 will help to achieve net zero emissions. The net carbon emissions will be reduced to zero, which will result in a clean environment.To improve sustainability within the framework of the Industry 4.0 transition, the research aimed to evaluate the Indian Railway’s supply chain metrics. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) are methodologies used in this assessment.

Structural health monitoring of a swivel bridge for evaluating builder comfort under train-induced vibration

The swivel bridge being built overcrossing the railway service line, the builder’s comfort level under the train-induced vibration is one of the critical issues in the bridge construction process. This study compares the applicability and usage limits of existing vibration comfort evaluation indicators for reasonably selected vibration comfort evaluation criteria. A framework is therefore proposed to evaluate builder comfort under train-induced vibrations during the construction process. Taking a swivel bridge overcrossing the Shanghai-Kunming railway line as an example, the structural health monitoring system is performed in three construction stages of the swivel bridge. Then, the acceleration response is measured, the acceleration-based evaluation indicators are compared, and the builder comfort level is evaluated in the three construction stages. The results demonstrate that the on-site measured indicators are close to the standard limits, and the builder comfort on the swivel bridge under the excitation of passing trains should be given attention.

Comprehensive examination of regional railway passenger behavior and dwell time components: Insights from video-based observations in Victoria, Australia

In understudied regional railway operations, this study explores passenger boarding and alighting patterns and how station design impacts them, particularly dwell times. Despite extensive metropolitan and suburban train research, regional railways have been overlooked. This study investigates regional rail passenger flow and dwell time to bridge this gap. This article studies dwell times and passenger boarding and alighting at two regional stations in Victoria, Australia, using CCTV data. The objective is to identify insights that might improve regional railway services' efficiency and user experience and advocate for sector-specific solutions. Analysis indicates distinct station boarding and alighting features, highlighting the discovery of the ‘blinded phenomenon’ for train conductors particularly in the afternoon peak (PMP). The results of the study showed that PMP services, which prioritise alighting passengers, had higher dwell times than the morning peak (AMP) services, which emphasise boarding passengers. Obstructed views make it difficult for train conductors to monitor passenger alighting, prolonging dwell times. Better human resource strategies, artificial intelligence for crowd surveillance, and strategic CCTV system deployment to streamline operations and improve passenger experience on regional railways are proposed in the paper, laying the groundwork for future research and operational changes in this vital transportation sector.

Railway Service Dynamics: Factors Shaping Customer Satisfaction in Indian Railways

This paper explores how customer satisfaction and service quality are perceived in the context of Indian Railways, focusing on factors that significantly influence passenger experiences. Drawing from both extensive literature and empirical data collected through a structured questionnaire from 305 respondents in Vijayawada, the study identifies key elements such as punctuality, cleanliness, ticketing procedures, staff behavior, and overall service reliability. Analysis using ANOVA reveals varying impacts of these factors on customer satisfaction across different service dimensions. While punctuality and staff behavior emerged as significant influencers, amenities like seating comfort and digital services showed less impact. Managerial implications highlight the importance of customer-centric strategies, staff training, and infrastructure improvements to enhance service quality and passenger satisfaction. The study concludes with suggestions for future research, emphasizing the need for exploring additional variables and conducting longitudinal studies to track changes in customer perceptions over time. This research not only enriches understanding of service quality in Indian Railways but also offers insights applicable to global transportation systems.

Assessing Commuter Satisfaction and Operational Efficiency of Local Passenger Railway Services in Tshwane, South Africa

Assessing Commuter Satisfaction and Operational Efficiency of Local Passenger Railway Services in Tshwane, South Africa

Reforming Public-Private Partnerships in Railway Services: Learning from the Jakarta Monorail Project Debacle

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) offer a promising strategy for accelerating railway infrastructure development, yet they entail significant risks if not executed correctly. Indonesia has adopted PPPs since the 1990s, but their impact on railway services remains underexplored. This paper suggests improvements to Indonesia’s railway PPP mechanism to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and service deliverability. It argues that the effectiveness of railway PPPs is hindered by the public sector’s limited capacity and weak regulatory and institutional frameworks. The research employs a case study of the Jakarta Monorail project, terminated in 2015 after 11 years of problematic development. The research methods include literature reviews and a comparative analysis of the case with two prominent railway PPPs in other developing countries: the Bangkok Transit System in Thailand and the Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System Phase I in India. The findings lead to two key recommendations for the government: reorganizing the roles and coordination processes of key PPP agencies and establishing a continuous capacity-building scheme for PPP stakeholders. These recommendations may create a more supportive environment for PPPs, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful railway PPP implementation in Indonesia.

Integrated Optimisation Model of Daily Freight Train Scheduling and Dynamic Railcar Routing Based on a Two-Layer Space-Time Network

This paper focuses on daily freight train scheduling and dynamic railcar routing problems for rail freight transportation at the operational level. Two mixed integer linear programming models that adopted different strategies were formulated based on a continuous two-layer time-space network. We simultaneously considered the benefits of railroad company and service quality when setting the objective function. By solving the models, we can distribute the dynamic railcar flows to the train paths in the basic train timetable to obtain the daily train operation plan over a short time horizon (e.g. a day), which will be helpful for dispatchers to make decisions such as the empty railcar distribution and car routing (trip planning). Finally, we compared two models on a part of the Chinese railroad network. The results show that the second model can effectively improve the efficiency of railroad freight transportation.

A socio-technical systems approach of the accident analysis in Indonesian multiple train accident cases: An application of AcciMap methodology.

The number of cases of train accidents in Indonesia continues to be large in the past few years. This paper analyzes train accident cases in Indonesia using a socio-technical system approach accident model called AcciMap, developed by Jens Rasmussen. The source of data comes from train accident investigation reports from 2015 to 2021 published by the National Transportation Safety Committee. This study uses a qualitative approach with thematic analysis to identify contributing factors and their interactions within the reports. Based on the socio-technical system approach, there are roles and contributions from the five levels of the socio-technical railway transportation system in Indonesia that interact with each other in the occurrence of accidents, including the railway regulatory bodies; other organizations; management of railway service company; processes and physical actions by staff; and condition of equipment and environment. This study has shown that the AcciMap methodology can provide a comprehensive view of the problems and their interactions across the socio-technical levels that influence each other in the occurrence of train accidents in Indonesia. The results also suggest that the socio-technical system approach is expected to be applied in the accident investigation process for the related industry to get more comprehensive insights into the accident.

Investigating influential factors on railway passenger flow utilizing multi-source data fusion and flow space theory: A case study of the Yangtze River Delta megalopolis, China

Employing flow space theory and multi-source data, this study examines the spatial network structure and factors influencing railway passenger flow, which is crucial for rail planning in densely populated megalopolises. Focusing on China's Yangtze River Delta (YRD) megalopolis, we utilize social network analysis to explore the characteristics of various flow networks and their interactions with the railway passenger flow network. Our key findings include the following: (1) A pronounced polarization effect and core-periphery structure exist in the YRD, notably within industry and railway flow networks; (2) Industry and corporation flow significantly contributes to rail passenger flow, with corporation networks in commerce, technical services, and finance showing higher similarity to the railway passenger flow network; (3) There is significant heterogeneity in the correlation between rail passenger flow and other flows within sub-networks formed by connections among nodes of different levels. (4) Enhancing railway services at lower-level nodes is essential to mitigate the disparity between population mobility and rail passenger flow, and to promote rail transportation equity. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers in developing countries to strategically plan railroad networks in megalopolises.

Measurement Model for Determining the Disparity Factors of Intercity Railway Transportation

Countries that are still developing experience significant disparities in access to railway services, as these nations also grapple with societal inequality issues that remain unaddressed. In developed countries, railway transportation systems serve as the primary mode of transportation for both passengers and goods. However, in recent years, studies on disparities in developed countries have increased, while literature concerning developing countries remains scarce. Therefore, this study takes place in Thailand, a developing country facing significant population disparities. The objective is to examine factors contributing to these disparities in access to railway transportation systems across cities, using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to identify user disparities. The sample group comprises 1,252 randomly selected railway users from various regions in Thailand, obtained through Stratified Random Sampling. The results reveal seven dimensions of disparities: cultural, spatial, societal, political, knowledge-based, economic, and environmental. The CFA results also highlight cultural disparities as a significant factor in explaining access disparities among railway users. These findings can inform relevant organizations, aiding them in better understanding the actual needs of railway users and aligning railway development plans accordingly. Ultimately, this contributes to policy development aimed at reducing access disparities and fostering a more equitable society. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-03-01 Full Text: PDF

Analysis on Improving the Utilisation Rate of Commuter Railways in Mature Metropolitan Areas in China in the Context of High-quality Development

China’s six mature metropolitan areas are facing a shortage of land resources. Commuter railways are a solution to this problem in the context of high-quality development. Nevertheless, the current commuter rail utilisation rate in these metropolitan areas is significantly lower than those in developed countries. Therefore, on the basis of analyses through the literature survey method, this paper collects the latest data on commuter railway services in the six metropolitan areas to discuss the reasons for the current low utilisation of commuter railways in terms of coverage, efficiency and operation, and to propose corresponding practicable solutions. The study found that the number of routes currently in operation is too small. In addition, there are issues including irrational station distribution, sparse train frequency and short operating hours and slow interchange in the services, all of which make the commuter railways fail to achieve the idealised time-saving effect, and serve as a reason for commuters to rely on private cars. In the foreseeable future, with the imposition of the concepts of sustainable development, transportation integration and service orientation, there is possibility that the utilisation rate of commuter railways in these metropolitan areas will be elevated.

Research on the spatial spillover effect of high-speed railway on the income of urban residents in China

The transportation infrastructure is a crucial component of social capital, as it aids in fostering national economic growth. The speed of resource elements’ spatial movement is increased by high-speed railways (HSR), thereby affecting the intensity and direction of regional economic connections. This study investigates how HSR impacts urban regional accessibility and the spatial spillover of urban residents’ income from a spatial viewpoint. The study found that: First, between 2000 and 2018, the introduction and functioning of HSR, along with the increased speed of regular railway services, led to an overall enhancement in urban regional accessibility and urban positioning. Second, there exists a notable spatial correlation between regional accessibility and labor market income. Cities with either high or low labor market income exhibit spatial clustering in the same direction at the spatial level. Enhancing regional accessibility typically leads to an increase in labor market income throughout the entire region. Third, the nearby cities with greater regional accessibility exert a siphon effect on the local area. Fourth, the labor market income is interdependent and promoted among cities. The labor market income of a city is positively influenced by the nearby cities and neighboring cities with comparable income levels. Fifth, between 2012 and 2018, the construction of HSR and the structural transformation of the labor market led to a notable increase in income through a positive spatial spillover effect.

The Development of an Ergonomic-Based Roadmap for Improving Passenger Mobility Onboard Intercity Trains in Indonesia

Today in Indonesia, intercity railway service has become an essential part of human mobility and can carry more than 298 million passengers in 2022. It is a reliable service since it can carry many passengers and is a form of time-efficient mode of transport. More and more people are using this service including disabled passengers. They are using the railway to travel between the cities. The railway industry has changed a lot in recent years. If we look at the 90s and before, traveling by train was almost entirely used by non-disabled people and very few of the passengers are people with disabilities. It has now changed while some disabled passengers used the rail, and it created some issues for the industry. This service for disabled passengers is a part of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and the Author found a mismatch between what the disabled passenger wanted and what the industry responded to. This research will try to understand what is happening in the Indonesian railway industry, compare it with the same issue in another country like the United Kingdom (UK), and what or how to get the ideal design and service for intercity onboard service for disabled passengers. This research uses the triangulation ergonomic principle which consists of measurement, observation, and consultation to combine a literature study and interviews with representatives of 4 stakeholders in the Indonesian railway: 1) A regular user of disabled passenger; 2) Executive Director of one of the Indonesian disability passengers Organization; 3) Traffic coordinator of the Directorate General of Railway (DGR) in the Indonesian Ministry of Transport; 4) A Vice President of the Passenger Division from PT. Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero)/KAI, an intercity railway operator. This interview is then combined with the data from the literature study then analyzed with several methods like Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to get the ideal coach design, Communication-Persuasion Matrix theory to address the communication gap between the parties and make an ideal roadmap solution with phasing approach.

Evaluasi Kepuasan Pengguna Aplikasi Kai Access Menggunakan Model End User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS)

In the rapidly advancing era of globalization, technology plays a pivotal role in various facets of life, offering manifold benefits. Serving as a vital component in daily tasks and responsibilities, technology has become indispensable. PT. Kereta Api Indonesia has harnessed technological advancements through the KAI Access application, providing customers the convenience of booking train tickets and accessing railway services without the need for physical queues. Despite these advantages, the KAI Access application has garnered low ratings on the Play Store. To enhance user experience and align it with expectations, it is imperative to gauge user satisfaction. This thesis seeks to ascertain the satisfaction level of KAI Access application users by employing Doll & Turkzadeh's End User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS) model, incorporating variables such as Content, Accuracy, Format, Ease of Use, and Timeliness. A sample comprising 400 respondents, specifically those who have previously utilized the KAI Access application, underwent SEM-PLS evaluation utilizing SmartPLS software. The assessment revealed that Content, Format, and Timeliness exert a significant influence on user satisfaction, whereas Accuracy and Ease of Use lack a substantial impact.

A Study of the Impact of the Use of Real-Time Crowding Information on the Perceived Service Quality of High-Speed Rail by Passengers with Unfixed-Seat Tickets

Unfixed-seat tickets are one of the supplementary forms of tickets used when the transport capacity of high-speed rail is insufficient; however, the needs of passengers with unfixed-seat tickets are often neglected. To understand the influence of unfixed-seat tickets on passengers’ perception of the quality of high-speed rail service, including their satisfaction, this study takes the provision of real-time crowding information (RTCI) as the independent variable and the satisfaction of passengers with unfixed-seat tickets with the quality of the high-speed rail service as the dependent variable, and adds social anxiety as a moderating variable, to construct a model. We conducted experiments and gathered data through questionnaires. The results showed that the implementation of RTCI has a significant impact on the satisfaction levels about high-speed railway service quality. In comparison to scenarios without RTCI or with RTCI failure, successful RTCI implementation can significantly enhance user satisfaction. Additionally, the moderating effect of social anxiety is significant. Perceived satisfaction did not significantly differ for individuals with low social anxiety in the absence of RTCI or in cases where RTCI failed; however, for individuals with high social anxiety, perceived satisfaction was significantly lower when RTCI failed compared to the No-RTCI condition. The potential practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Human factors and cyber-security risks on the railway – the critical role played by signalling operations

PurposeRailways are a well-known example of complex critical infrastructure, incorporating socio-technical systems with humans such as drivers, signallers, maintainers and passengers at the core. The technological evolution including interconnectedness and new ways of interaction lead to new security and safety risks that can be realised, both in terms of human error, and malicious and non-malicious behaviour. This study aims to identify the human factors (HF) and cyber-security risks relating to the role of signallers on the railways and explores strategies for the improvement of “Digital Resilience” – for the concept of a resilient railway.Design/methodology/approachOverall, 26 interviews were conducted with 21 participants from industry and academia.FindingsThe results showed that due to increased automation, both cyber-related threats and human error can impact signallers’ day-to-day operations – directly or indirectly (e.g. workload and safety-critical communications) – which could disrupt the railway services and potentially lead to safety-related catastrophic consequences. This study identifies cyber-related problems, including external threats; engineers not considering the human element in designs when specifying security controls; lack of security awareness among the rail industry; training gaps; organisational issues; and many unknown “unknowns”.Originality/valueThe authors discuss socio-technical principles through a hexagonal socio-technical framework and training needs analysis to mitigate against cyber-security issues and identify the predictive training needs of the signallers. This is supported by a systematic approach which considers both, safety and security factors, rather than waiting to learn from a cyber-attack retrospectively.

Enabling Device-to-Device network with proximity service for porter-passengers in railway stations

This paper presents an innovative device-to-device (D2D) network adapted to optimize the rail experience for both passengers and carriers. The meaning of the proposed system is a smart wearable device specially designed for wearers. This device serves two purposes, enabling fair dynamic pricing based on baggage weight and length of trip, and facilitating health monitoring by continuously checking vital signs such as heart rate and pulse. In case of an emergency, the device is equipped to send timely notifications to both the passenger mobile application and the railway service. For passengers, the D2D network offers a variety of proximity services that enhance their rail experience by providing real-time location information to various facilities such as taxis, hotels, restaurants and internet hubs. An integrated application has been developed to further enhance the passenger experience. This app helps with porter booking, fare estimation, taxi booking and hotel search, contributing to a smooth travel experience. The portable portable prototype is built on state-of-the-art technology that includes modules such as ESP32 and pulse sensors for connectivity, monitoring and pricing. Rigorous tests have demonstrated the feasibility of a D2D network in implementing key functions such as concierge health monitoring, location-aware passenger services, and fair pricing mechanisms. While the results show promising progress, there are recognized areas that need further refinement. These include improving the accuracy of remote monitoring, optimizing health monitoring algorithms and strengthening network security measures. This paper presents a robust D2D network architecture that benefits both carriers and passengers at train stations. Addressing certain pain points and using technological innovations. The proposed system shows its potential to significantly improve the overall railway experience.

AN ASSESSMENT OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC CONGESTION ALONG ABUJA-NASARAWA ROAD WITH EMPHASIS ON KARU BRIDGE TO AYA INTERCHANGE

Traffic congestion poses a substantial challenge to efficient road transportation, impacting travel times, fuel consumption, and overall productivity. The Abuja-Nasarawa Road, a critical transportation corridor, faces persistent congestion issues attributed to factors such as increased vehicle numbers, inadequate infrastructure, and poor traffic management. The escalating traffic congestion along Abuja-Nasarawa Road adversely affects the region's productivity and economic development. This study aims to analyze the traffic congestion along the Abuja-Nasarawa Road to improve decision-making regarding road use and transportation system planning. The research design combines qualitative and quantitative methods, utilizing a questionnaire and traffic data collection. The study focuses on the AYA Interchange – Karu Bridge section of the road, a critical stretch facing congestion issues. The methodology involves traffic data collection, including vehicle counts, traffic volumes, and average speeds. Results indicate varying traffic flow rates during morning and evening peak hours. Karu Bridge experiences the highest traffic congestion, with a flow rate of 5433 vehicles per hour during the morning. The qualitative analysis reveals the distribution of road users, with 40% being commercial drivers. The findings reveal a prevalence of traffic congestion attributed to the concentration of economic activities in the city center, leading to increased commuter influx. The study recommends measures such as maintaining and expanding the road network, introducing alternative transportation like a railway service, and completing infrastructure projects like the Apo-Karshi Road.