Train Route Research Articles

Reclaiming Initial Teacher Education in universities: Moving beyond a technicist model

Recent policy developments in England, particularly since 2021, have resulted in increased regulation and marketisation of Initial Teacher Training (ITT)/Initial Teacher Education (ITE). Although the origins of these developments go back much further than 2021, the current context in which ITE operates in England is, arguably, both challenging and unstable. Since 2010, the Government has increased the involvement of schools in ITE, creating an unstable climate for those who work in ITE in universities, through the School Direct initiative. School-Centred Initial teacher Training (SCITT) routes also precede this. The involvement of schools in ITE in England has extended to schools taking a leading role in the recruitment, selection and training of teachers and these developments have also, in some quarters, resulted in an anti-intellectual, anti-theoretical and anti-university discourse, which has been damaging to universities. This paper argues that current policy developments in ITE are reductionist and technicist and makes a case for the role of universities in ITE.

Education and training of thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons: Academic aspects in France

Over the last 15 years, there have been notable advancements in healthcare services, as well as teaching and organizational aspects, within thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in France. Traditionally, residents would enter a general surgery program before proceeding to a thoracic and cardiovascular surgery fellowship. However, starting from 2017, residents now directly enrol in a six-year thoracic and cardiovascular program, which is divided into three phases: “basic training”, “in-depth development”, and “consolidation”. Theoretical knowledge is taught during regional and national biannual seminars. To improve surgical skills, simulation workshops are organized during these seminars and on dedicated days. Finally, to further diversify their experience, residents benefit from visiting referral centres through a national tour.This article seeks to document the conventional training route for residents specializing in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in France. We provide an overview of the training structure and methodologies employed in France for these residents, outlining the national framework that oversees their local and day-to-day training activities.

Unpacking the Gap Box Against Data-Free Knowledge Distillation.

Data-free knowledge distillation (DFKD) improves the student model (S) by mimicking the class probability from a pre-trained teacher model (T) without training data. Under such setting, an ideal scenario is that T can help generate "good" samples from a generator (G) to maximally benefit S. However, existing arts suffer from the non-ideal generated samples under the disturbance of the gap (i.e., either too large or small) between the class probabilities of T and S; for example, the generated samples with too large gap may exhibit excessive information for S, while too small gap leads to the limited knowledge in the samples, resulting into the poor generalization. Meanwhile, they fail to judge the "goodness" of the generated samples for S since the fixed T is not necessarily ideal. In this paper, we aim to answer what is inside the gap box; together with how to yield "good" generated samples for DFKD? To this end, we propose a Gap-Sensitive Sample Generation (GapSSG) approach, by revisiting the empirical distilled risk from a data-free perspective, which confirms the existence of an ideal teacher (T *), while theoretically implying: (1) the gap disturbance originates from the mismatch between T and T *, hence the class probabilities of T enable the approximation to those of T *; and (2) "good" samples should maximally benefit S via T's class probabilities, owing to unknown T *. To this end, we unpack the gap box between T and S as two findings: inherent gap to perceive T and T *; derived gap to monitor S and T *. Benefiting from the derived gap that focuses on the adaptability of generated sample to S, we attempt to track student's training route (a series of training epochs) to capture the category distribution of S; upon which, a regulatory factor is further devised to approximate T * over inherent gap, so as to generate "good" samples to S. Furthermore, during the distillation process, a sample-balanced strategy comes up to tackle the overfitting and missing knowledge issues between the generated partial and critical samples by training G. The theoretical and empirical studies verify the advantages of GapSSG over the state-of-the-arts.

Synthesis of Self-Checking Circuits for Train Route Traffic Control at Intermediate Stations with Control of Calculations Based on Weight-Based Sum Codes

When synthesizing systems for railway interlocking, it is recommended to use automated models to implement the logic of railway automation and remote control units. Finite-state machines (FSMs) can be implemented on any hardware component. When using relay technology, the functional safety of electrical interlocking is achieved by using uncontrolled (safety) relays with a high coefficient of asymmetry of failures in types 1 → 0 and 0 → 1. When using programmable components, the use of backup and diverse protection methods is required. This paper presents a flexible approach to synthesizing FSMs for railway automation and remote control units that offer both individual and route-based control. Unlike existing solutions, this proposal considers the pre-failure states of railway automation and remote control units during the finite-state machine synthesis stage. This enables the implementation of self-checking and self-diagnostic modules to manage automation units. By increasing the number of states for individual devices and considering the states of interconnected objects, the transition graphs can be expanded. This expansion allows for the synthesis of the transition graph of the control subsystem and other systems. The authors used a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to implement a finite-state machine. In this case, the proposal is to encode the states of a finite-state machine using weight-based sum codes in the residue class ring based on a given modulus. The best coverage of errors occurring at the outputs of the logic converter in the structure of the FSM can be ensured by selecting the weighting coefficients and the value of the module. This paper presents an example of synthesizing an FPGA-based FSM using state encoding through modular weight-based sum codes. The operation of the synthesized device was modeled. It was found to operate according to the same algorithm as the real devices. When synthesizing self-checking and self-controlled train control devices, it is recommended to consider the solutions proposed in this paper.

Routing and scheduling of trains and engines in a railway marshalling station yard

In a busy railway marshalling station, train and engine traffic management in the receiving/departure yard plays a crucial role in efficient and stable operations. Traditionally, a track assignment problem (TAP) is solved to assign tracks to trains for berthing at a receiving/departure yard. However, the TAP does not encompass shunting operations in the yard (e.g., engine replacement and train disassembly), which can result in additional scheduling challenges for dispatchers and route conflicts between operations. This paper investigates a train and engine routing and scheduling problem (TERSP) in a receiving/departure yard of railway marshalling stations, which involves simultaneously assigning routes and scheduling route-setting start times for both train and shunting operations to be conducted in the yard. By introducing the concepts of task, activity, and pattern, we transform the original problem into assigning pre-generated patterns incorporating both route and route-setting start time alternatives to activities. The transformed problem is formulated into a compact binary integer linear programming model with a linear number of constraints and the objective of minimizing the total time deviation of all involved tasks. An improved technique that relies on listing all maximal (bi)cliques in a constructed graph is designed to effectively model the time coherence and track section occupation constraints. A heuristic that gradually expands the patterns for the identified key activities by adding more start time alternatives is applied to remedy an infeasible model caused by potential route conflicts. In addition, a rolling horizon algorithm that decomposes the original problem into consecutive smaller stages using either a time-rolling or a train-rolling rule is developed to efficiently solve instances. Finally, numerical experiments based on the physical layouts and real timetables of a receiving yard and a departure yard of a large marshalling station in China are conducted to assess the performance and applicability of our proposed approaches. The results demonstrate that our approaches typically find (near-)optimal solutions within several minutes for the investigated instances by simultaneously addressing different classes of yard operations and resources.

A pan-Europe comparative review of allied profession roles in cardiac science

Abstract Introduction Over the last 75 years, Cardiac Science (CS) has evolved into a widely practised Allied Profession (AP) throughout Europe. Despite this prominence, there are limited comparative works on AP titles, regulation, scope of practice (SoP) and training routes. The recognition of CS as a profession in the United Kingdom dates from 1948 when the Society for Cardiac Science and Technology (SCST) was established. In the UK, the AP role has evolved into Cardiac Physiologists with education at bachelor’s degree level and Clinical Scientists at master’s level. The SoP has also developed over time, leading to more advanced training and practice. Similar progression in professional titles, SoP, education and training routes also occurred in other European countries. Purpose To compare Allied Professions in Cardiac Science (APCS) including professional nomenclature, regulation, education, SoP, and pan-European identity. Methods Data were collected from November 2023 to January 2024. European and country databases were scrutinised to determine nomenclature, professional status, regulation, and educational requirements. Online translation was used when information was not available in English. Results The analysis of databases revealed 15 APCS roles (Table 1). In 60% of the countries, the role is officially recognised by a professional body that provides advocacy, education, training, and defines SoP (Figure 1). Moreover, 47% of countries operate a mandatory licensing or registration scheme. In 33% of countries, APCS roles are incorporated within the Biomedical Science profession. In the remaining countries, nine alternate titles are used to describe the discipline. In most cases (66%), education is at bachelor’s level, while in others, particularly where recognition is more limited, it is at a vocational level. In four countries (Austria, Ireland, Iceland, and The Netherlands), SoP is broadly in line with the UK, covering electrocardiography, echocardiography, haemodynamics for invasive procedures, implantable devices, and electrophysiology. Conversely, in other countries SoP varies and can include nuclear medicine (Sweden and Denmark) or perfusion and respiratory (Italy and Portugal). Some countries restrict SoP to defined roles such as pacemaker or echo technicians (Spain, Luxembourg, and Switzerland). Notably, Finland, France, and Norway, as well as most Eastern European countries do not recognise APCS roles. Conclusion While APCS roles are widely acknowledged in Europe, they lack visibility compared to other health professions. The variability in professional titles, education, and SoP constrain the development of a unified identity. Collaborative works connecting APCS roles across Europe may enhance identity, improve quality of care and raise the profile of this discipline.

Improving train services to increase student mobility and safety on the Purwakarta-Karawang route

Transportation is essential for the mobility of workers and students, yet many prefer motorcycles over public transportation like trains due to inadequate schedules and limited train availability. This choice contributes to Indonesia's high motorcycle usage and associated traffic accident risks. This study focuses on the Purwakarta-Karawang train route and its impact on student mobility at Universitas Singaperbangsa Karawang. Employing a qualitative method with descriptive data collection and SWOT analysis, this research gathers student feedback on current train schedules and their impact on daily commutes. Findings indicate that increasing the number of train schedules could significantly improve student mobility and reduce the reliance on motorcycles, thereby decreasing traffic accidents. Moreover, better train schedules could enhance access to educational and employment opportunities. The study suggests that the local government should consider expanding and optimizing train services to address these issues. This research contributes to the broader field of transportation studies by highlighting the importance of efficient public transport schedules in reducing traffic accidents and supporting student mobility. It emphasizes the need for policy adjustments to improve Indonesia's public transportation infrastructure and services by proposing practical solutions.

RESISTANCE AND SAFETY OF THE RAILWAY TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN THE CONTEXT OF DISRUPTIONS OCCURRING DURING RAIL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION

This article presents an approach to planning rail freight transport taking into account the disruptions that occur during their implementation. The issues raised are related to the multi-aspect perception of factors influencing the organization of transport, in which immunity and safety play significant roles. The authors present an analysis of disruptions relating to the causes and effects of adverse events for selected traffic and operational parameters, including delays of freight trains in Poland from 2019-2022. The analysis of adverse events (accidents and serious accidents) in the rail transport system made it possible to present the rates of accidents when crossing tracks in prohibited places, at crossings on the public and separate networks, related to signals passed at danger events, and related to track works and the technical condition of rolling stock. In the case of the effects of adverse events, a rate was determined for freight train delays. The authors also developed a method for determining the value of disruptions in rail freight transport. A case study containing disruption quantification for a given freight train route is presented. The article emphasizes that a significant challenge in the rail transport sector is the proper organization of the operational activities of railway carriers concerning disruptions occurring during transport.

Formulation of train routing selection problem for different real-time traffic management objectives

The train routing selection problem (TRSP) addresses the optimized selection of alternative routes as a preliminary step for real-time railway traffic management problem (rtRTMP). In the TRSP, route selection relies on estimating potential delays resulting from scheduling decisions. The selected routes are then exclusively applied in the rtRTMP. While prior research established the mathematical model and solution algorithms for the TRSP, its practical application in real-time rail traffic management remains limited. The existing TRSP model focuses on a single objective function for the rtRTMP. However, in practice, various stakeholders may prioritize different objectives, leading to diverse objective functions employed in the rtRTMP. This paper extends the TRSP model by considering a range of suitable objectives for the rtRTMP. We formulate the TRSP for each objective function and enhance the cost estimation model to evaluate the correspondence between the TRSP and rtRTMP objective functions. We then assess the overall effectiveness of the TRSP for the rtRTMP through an evaluation that takes into account several configurations of the model and the rtRTMP solution approach used. Our purpose is to enlarge the applicability of the TRSP and enhance the efficiency of the rtRTMP for real-world systems. The paper includes an in-depth computational analysis of two French case studies to investigate the performance of the TRSP across different rtRTMP configurations.

Integrated Optimization of Train Diagrams and Rolling Stock Circulation with Full-Length and Short-Turn Routes of Virtual Coupling Trains in Urban Rail Transit

The advancement of virtual coupling technology in urban rail transit has facilitated the online coupling and decoupling of trains, enabling a range of flexible transportation configurations, including various route types and adjustable formations. This study targets the fluctuating passenger demands on urban rail lines, aiming to minimize both passenger travel and operational costs. The model integrates constraints associated with virtual coupling, train operations, rolling stock circulation, and the interaction between virtually coupled trains and passenger arrivals. New decision variables are introduced to depict the train formation state under virtual coupling scenarios. An integrated optimization model for train diagrams and rolling stock circulation under virtual coupling conditions is developed, employing a genetic-simulated annealing algorithm informed by train operation simulations. A case study on an urban rail line during the morning peak examines the optimization of train diagrams for full-length and short-turn routes. Findings confirm that virtual coupling technology effectively adapts to lines with uneven passenger flow distribution, significantly enhancing the match between supply and demand, equalizing spatial and temporal traffic variations, and harmonizing the quality of passenger services with operational efficiency.

The Impact of the Change Type of Wagon on the Efficiency of the Single Wagon Consignments

Abstract The transportation of shipments by rail is usually more expensive than other modes of transport. The costs are dependent on different factors, like the length of the train route, energy consumption based on traction, or the number of crew members in the train. The total price for using the railway infrastructure is also calculated, as is the total weight of the railway vehicle—the weight of the shipment and the weight of the wagon. The different types of wagons have different properties. For the operators, it is an ideal situation to have good values of the technical coefficient of tare. In the case of good values, the operator has effectively used their vehicle park. Railway transport should be affordable for customers. By operating non-efficient wagons, transport is more expensive and has low efficiency. By reducing the dead weight of the wagon, it is possible to reduce the cost rate. In synergy with this, more efficient and eco-friendly transportation can be achieved by reducing energy consumption. By reducing energy consumption, it is possible to get closer to the goal of the European Union, which is to reduce greenhouse gases from transport.

Investigating visual navigation using spiking neural network models of the insect mushroom bodies.

Ants are capable of learning long visually guided foraging routes with limited neural resources. The visual scene memory needed for this behaviour is mediated by the mushroom bodies; an insect brain region important for learning and memory. In a visual navigation context, the mushroom bodies are theorised to act as familiarity detectors, guiding ants to views that are similar to those previously learned when first travelling along a foraging route. Evidence from behavioural experiments, computational studies and brain lesions all support this idea. Here we further investigate the role of mushroom bodies in visual navigation with a spiking neural network model learning complex natural scenes. By implementing these networks in GeNN-a library for building GPU accelerated spiking neural networks-we were able to test these models offline on an image database representing navigation through a complex outdoor natural environment, and also online embodied on a robot. The mushroom body model successfully learnt a large series of visual scenes (400 scenes corresponding to a 27 m route) and used these memories to choose accurate heading directions during route recapitulation in both complex environments. Through analysing our model's Kenyon cell (KC) activity, we were able to demonstrate that KC activity is directly related to the respective novelty of input images. Through conducting a parameter search we found that there is a non-linear dependence between optimal KC to visual projection neuron (VPN) connection sparsity and the length of time the model is presented with an image stimulus. The parameter search also showed training the model on lower proportions of a route generally produced better accuracy when testing on the entire route. We embodied the mushroom body model and comparator visual navigation algorithms on a Quanser Q-car robot with all processing running on an Nvidia Jetson TX2. On a 6.5 m route, the mushroom body model had a mean distance to training route (error) of 0.144 ± 0.088 m over 5 trials, which was performance comparable to standard visual-only navigation algorithms. Thus, we have demonstrated that a biologically plausible model of the ant mushroom body can navigate complex environments both in simulation and the real world. Understanding the neural basis of this behaviour will provide insight into how neural circuits are tuned to rapidly learn behaviourally relevant information from complex environments and provide inspiration for creating bio-mimetic computer/robotic systems that can learn rapidly with low energy requirements.

Public-private partnerships scheme of pioneer train case study in South Sumatera area

Pioneer trains in Indonesia have been fully funded by the government. The construction needs a lot of funding that would burden the state budget. One of the alternatives is the public-private partnership scheme. This study aims to analyze the most effective unbundling scenario for financing and maintaining the Indralaya-Tanjung Senai train. The life cycle costs and conducting sensitivity analysis according to applicable regulations. The scenarios are based on ticket price increases and government support for the operation and maintenance (O&M) for this pioneer train route, calculated net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) value. Scenario 1 assumes that tickets do not receive subsidies; private companies are responsible for O&M costs. Scenario 2 assumes that ticket prices are set by private companies; the government is responsible for procurement and maintenance costs. Scenario 3 assumes that the government provides subsidies of IDR 10,000 per passenger as well as railway infrastructure; private companies bear the cost of procuring railbuses and operational expenses. Based on calculations with Scenario 1 NPV is IDR 0.73 billion; with Scenario 2 is IDR 4.64 billion and with Scenario 3 is IDR (–)1.34 billion. The analysis shows that increasing passenger fares according to price raises and inflation rates, and subsidies from governments for maintenance costs will make this railroad project financially feasible.

Evaluation of Commuter Train User Mapping in the Sidoarjo – Indro Department

The mobility of people from Sidoarjo to Gresik for various purposes requires commuter train as an efficient transportation mode. There is a fundamental need to map the distribution of potential commuter train users whose destination is Gresik area. In this study, the researcher chose Sidoarjo - Indro commuter train route as it intersects with a road and its vehicular traffic. This research method examined the population, number of people using commuter service, vehicle mode selection, and problems encountered while travelling between Sidoarjo and Gresik. Data collection methods used were surveys and questionnaires. Data processing used was tabulation. The mapping results show that the purpose of the passengers’ trip is predominantly for work using motorbike which delivered access as far as 4 km (30%) and online motorbike taxi as far as 4 km (43%). It is known that the distribution of commuter train passengers is dominated by those who start from Gubeng Station and stop at Sidoarjo Station. The mapping of the distribution is important to create fundamental reference that is further used in transportation modelling for areas that are not yet served by Commuter Train services, considering that commuter train services are not evenly distributed throughout the region. It is also essential to evaluate based on commuter train travel behavior mapping.

PROPOSED METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF RAILROADS FOR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION

Honduras is a country that lacks the development of rail transport for the mobilization of cargo within the territory, generating congestion on the roads and problems of merchandise since practically only road transport is available within the country. The country has a privileged geographic location due to its location in the heart of America, making it attractive for several entities to be part of a project to implement a 730 km freight train from the customs office in Puerto Cortes, making the entire journey in the Honduran territory and returning to its starting point. The objective of this work is to propose a graphical method to determine the route of a freight train in Honduras. This method is based on identifying on a map protected zones, import/export zones, cargo ports and customs, determined by the number of containerized cargo passing through the country. As a result, a route for the freight train is obtained that prioritizes the areas with the highest container movement, avoiding the passage through the highways of some of the country's major cities. The main contribution is the proposal of a graphic and systematic methodology to evaluate the possible logistic transport routes that give continuity to this initiative.

Estimating the Railway Network Capacity Utilization with Mixed Train Routes and Stopping Patterns: A Multiobjective Optimization Approach

Railway capacity estimation problem is typically defined as estimating the maximum number of trains that can be operated in a railway section within a given time interval. However, trains with different speeds, routes, and stopping patterns in a railway network will likely compete for the limited capacity of network nodes and sections. As these trains may provide different services, it is ambiguous to simply indicate the network capacity by a scalar number of trains. To comprehensively estimate and interpret the railway capacity considering the capacity competition between heterogeneous trains, we propose a multiobjective perspective for the capacity estimation problem to enrich the capacity theory while handling the competition among trains with different routes and stopping patterns. Based on a time-space network timetable saturation model, we extend the multiobjective capacity estimation approach to the detailed timetable level by optimizing the saturated timetable under capacity estimation objectives with respect to different routes and stopping patterns. With the ε-constraint method, we can obtain the Pareto front of saturated timetables, i.e., a set of nondominated optimized timetables that no more candidate train can be additionally scheduled. The result is a more comprehensive capacity representation than a single absolute scalar number. A case study is conducted on a combined high-speed and intercity network of Zhengzhou Railway group in China. An extensive set of Pareto-optimal saturated timetables describing the effects on the capacity of the railway network is obtained. The results can help infrastructure managers select saturated timetables as the capacity utilization reference by considering the trade-off between time indexes from passengers’ and operators’ perspectives.

Formation of alternative routes for passenger trains in the event of non-standard situations

Railway passenger transportation has always had a significant place in the economic, material and technical development of Ukraine. The current conditions are no exception, when in connection with the beginning of a full-scale military invasion of our country, passenger transport assumed responsibility for the timely evacuation of people and their safe relocation to other regions of the country or abroad. Due to the fact that railway transport is of strategic importance for Ukraine, its infrastructure has increased risks of destruction. Each destruction of the railway infrastructure has serious consequences for the organization of the movement of passenger trains, in particular high-speed trains. Therefore, with the aim of reducing the possible costs of organizing the movement of high-speed passenger trains in the event of the destruction of the railway infrastructure and increasing the reliability of the functioning of the high-speed railway passenger transport system in Ukraine, an automated technology for providing an alternative route for the trains of the branch “Ukrainian Railway High-Speed Company” (UZShK) is proposed. The formation of this technology is considered on the example of the most popular passenger direction, namely - Kyiv-Lviv, the topology of which is represented by a weighted graph, where the vertices are railway stations, and the edges are railway sections with a weight in the form of a tuple (time to overcome each section, presence of electrification, bandwidth). The proposed technology also provides for the possibility of attracting additional “shuttle” trains or road transport, in cases where it is necessary to significantly reduce the travel time by an alternative route or the possibility of the arrival of railway transport to the station where it is necessary to board/disembark passengers is excluded. The formalization of this process was carried out by forming an optimization mathematical model according to the criterion of minimum operating costs. The formation of a set of alternative routes was carried out using the adjacency matrix of the graph representing the Kyiv-Lviv transportation direction. The developed technology is proposed to be integrated in the form of a software product for automated workplaces (AWP) of operative personnel in the form of a decision support system (DSP), the algorithm of which is also given in this publication.

Transitioning From Traditional Sport to Esport: Exploring Sport Psychology Practitioners’ Experiences

Sport psychology practitioners are increasingly operating in the esport domain. Yet it remains unclear how practitioners who have exclusively been trained in traditional sport develop a contextually grounded understanding of their practice in esport. This study, framed from an ontological relativism and epistemological interpretivism approach, involved semistructured interviews with 10 qualified practitioners (three female, seven male) who transitioned from traditional sport to esport. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis and presented via three composite vignettes: (a) My wish was to feel a part of the team, but there’s no team; (b) To be honest, did I have assumptions going into esport? Absolutely!; and (c) Esport is the wild, wild west. Our findings offer insights on the hurdles associated with transitioning from traditional sport to esport, thus highlighting the important role that esport organizations, training routes, and educational institutions have in supporting practitioners to ethically and effectively work in this domain.

Special physical training of orienteering athletes for the winter competition season

The article considers the features of the means and methods of special physical training for the students engaged in orienteering for the winter competitive season. The factors of the pedagogical experiment using the example of the development of an educational and training route have been described. The features of control testing have been analyzed. Information was obtained on the positive relationship in such tests as cross-country skiing (free style), ski sprint, high jump from a place, lifting the trunk and the competitive results of participants in the pedagogical experiment.

Functions of the interlocking system on mixed traffic lines

These days, automated rail traffic control systems help to lessen the need for human intervention in train traffic management. On the other hand, the various algorithms used by interlocking systems to coordinate the movement of trains belonging to distinct categories result in longer wait times for technological procedures at the station. The possibility of timely routes for trains of multiple categories occurs by employing the method of automatic route preparation by interlocking systems in the organization of the movement of trains of different categories. In interlocking systems, automatic route preparation can be achieved by continuously monitoring train characteristics, train traffic graphs of various train classes, and the condition of equipment involved in the function’s development. Nonetheless, it is predicated on the creation of many models to arrange the specifications of various train classes and train movements inside a single schedule type. In order to prepare the routes ahead of time for the station tracks based on the algorithms for the operation of interlocking systems for various kinds of trains, the paper analyzes the reliance of the traffic composition characteristics.