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The critical points on the rail and road network are their intersections, i.e., level crossings. During a train crossing, car traffic is stopped. This reduces the fluidity of traffic on the road and, consequently, can cause congestion. The problem increases with the number of cars and trains. Frequently, due to national regulations, level crossing closure times are long. It is mainly dictated by safety issues. Building two-level intersections is not always a good solution, mainly because of the high cost of implementation. In the article, the authors proposed the use of sensors to reduce level crossing closure times and improve the Level of Service on the road network. The analyzed railroad lines are local agglomeration lines, mainly due to safety (low speed of commuter trains) and high impact on the road network. The sensors proposed in the article are based on radar/LIDAR. Formulas similar to HCM methods are proposed, which can be implemented in a railroad crossing controller. Simulations using the PTV Vissim program are carried out and the results are worked out based on the obtained data. The considered method can reduce the level crossing closure time by 68.6%, thereby increasing the Level of Service on roads near railroads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquiring a clear insight into road users' perception of level of service (LOS) at rail road grade crossings (RRGCs) can be beneficial for the development of strategies for creating a safe and comfortable commuting environment for road users. This study examines road users' (pedestrians, bicyclists, motorized two-wheelers, motorized three-wheelers, cars, and commercial vehicles) perceptions and elicits the impact of LOS on the identified factors. In this context, initially, a pilot survey was carried out at RRGCs, but road users' low participation response rate reflected the infeasibility of conducting the survey at RRGCs. Therefore, an extensive survey was conducted in the residential areas, shopping areas, and fuel stations in the vicinity of 21 RRGCs from nine different Indian states, and 7588 responses were collected. First, importance-satisfaction (IS) analysis is carried out to figure out the most important and satisfying factors perceived by road users. The results of the IS analysis reveal that out of the total considered variables, seven variables, namely gate blockage time before the train arrives (BBT), followed by crossing surface quality (CSQ), lateral visibility (LV), road width (RW), gate blockage time after the train departs (BAT), presence of heavy vehicles (PHV), and road marking and warning signs (MWS), are in need of immediate improvement. Subsequently, an ordered probit model is developed to examine the influence of factors over perceived LOS. The ordered probit model results demonstrate that LOS at RRGCs deteriorates with an increase in perception-related factors like BBT, time taken by train to cross the RRGC (TCT), BAT, distance between the gates (DBG), PHV, and presence of pedestrians (PP). On the other hand, RW, CSQ, LV, MWS, and aesthetics (AES) positively impact perceived LOS, signifying that increasing these variables improves perceived LOS. Moreover, age, trip type, trip duration, and trip frequency are among the socio-demographic and trip-related characteristics that have been found to have a considerable impact on perceived LOS. Hence, our research presents the policy tools that planners and policymakers could utilize to enhance the operational performance of RRGCs. • The study examines the perception of road users to determine the factors influencing LOS of RRGCs. • IS analysis has been carried out to identify the variables seeking further intervention. • An ordered probit model has been developed to find the effect of various factors on LOS at RRGC perceived by road users. • The findings revealed that among all the significant factors, BBT is the most influencing factor for perceived LOS. • Including BBT, factors such as CSQ, LV, RW, BAT, PHV and MWS require prompt attention from the planners and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document provides an account of the project of the Bribano-Agordo railway line from the early stages of the concept design until the opening to commercial traffic and subsequent closure included the analysis of the projects after the closure of the route. It analyzed aspects about historical and geographical context, the location, the construction phase, the commissioning and the operation of the railway line and the subsequent closure. The Bribano-Agordo railway was a 28.9 km [17.96 mi] long concession railway that connected the National FS network, via Sedico-Bribano station to the area of Agordo pyrite mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Konkan Railway has many unstable slopes along the 741 km long route from Roha to Thokur in the states of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka in India. Frequent cases of boulder fall, slope failure and landslide used to occur on the track during the rainy season. Such cases have resulted in several severe train accidents, traffic interruptions, loss of lives and assets. Hence the Konkan Railway Corporation deployed several geotechnical measures such as wire-netting, retaining wall, rock bolting and shotcreting for stability enhancement. However, none of these measures proved effective and accidents continued. Finally, the Konkan Railway Corporation decided to redesign the cut-slopes using blasting. Excavation of hard rock for its removal without damaging the existing track (2- 3 m away from the slope) and disrupting the traffic, was a daunting task. An unplanned blast would have resulted in the closure of the route for hours. The present study explains the method in which entire cutting was redesigned by formation of 5 to 2 m wide berms at an interval of 6 m bench height from rail track level using novel direction controlled blasting technique. Further, stability of the cut-slope, before and after exacavation, has been determined using kinematic analysis and 3D numerical modelling. Similar technique can be adopted to widen or stabilize an active transportation route in hills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Review of different design and modelling methods for track drainage in railways. • Classification of drainage systems in railways. • Construction description techniques. • Highlights and recommendations to choose the best system. • Adaptation and resilience in drainage. A new design tool. Abstract The effect of water must be considered during the different phases of the life cycle of infrastructures. When it is not properly managed, it can generate problems that may lead to infrastructure closure or even destruction. This paper presents a review of the different drainage systems existent in railway infrastructures. Current design criteria have become obsolete in many cases due to effects of climate change. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to serve as a starting point for new designs. To offer measures to address this problem and increase the resilience of the structures by means of a new design tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The first part of the paper characterizes railway passenger service withdrawals on present-day Polish territory. Three periods of more extensive closures can be distinguished, including the last period of the greatest closures which took place after 1990. The second part of the paper relates to the social consequences of passenger traffic closures. Such withdrawals usually have painful results for local communities. The results of household questionnaire surveys carried out in September 2002 in 20 selected localities throughout Poland are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]