Search

Ex-post benefit-cost analyses (BCAs) can improve the accuracy of future ex-ante BCAs and strengthen accountability for policy implementation. However, benefits and costs are usually analyzed prior to policymaking, not after. The rare ex-post BCAs available consider road and rail projects and often face methodological challenges such as difficulties describing what would have occurred in the absence of a project (the counterfactual situation). Earlier studies also mention the problem of projects being evaluated too soon after implementation. Our case study evaluates benefits and costs of a Dutch waterway project more than 10 years after its implementation, including the counterfactual situation, and compare results of the ex-post BCA with those of the ex-ante BCA. The outcome of the ex-post BCA is negative. This is in contrast with the positive outcome of the ex-ante BCA. The difference between the ex-post BCA and the ex-ante BCA is decomposed by changing assumptions step-by-step. This enables us to isolate forecasting errors of the ex-ante BCA from other potential sources of differences, such as methodological differences resulting from changes in guidelines occurring in the period between the ex-ante and ex-post BCA. As far as we know, this approach has not been attempted before in ex-ante/ex-post comparisons of BCA's for transport projects. Ex-post BCAs that explicitly define the counterfactual situation, use up-to-date insights into economic developments and check changes in the methodologies applied should accordingly be carried out more often. Ex-ante / ex-post comparisons are useful tools to improve the accuracy of BCAs, especially when they decompose of sources of difference. • Benefit-cost analyses (BCAs) are key instruments for policymaking on infrastructure projects in many countries. • Ex-post BCAs can improve ex-ante BCAs but have only rarely been undertaken and often face methodological challenges. • Our study addresses the methodological challenges and decomposes sources of difference between ex-ante and ex-post BCAs. • For the Burgemeester Delen Canal case, we have isolated assessment errors from other sources of differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to explore the influence of transient pressure fluctuation inside high-speed trains passing throught tunnels on the fetal growth of Sprague – Dawley (SD) rats. A pressure variation simulation system was designed and exposure experiments were performed on SD rats. Forty-eight SD rats are divided into two control groups and two experimental groups, and are then exposed to transient pressure alternation (−1200 Pa ~1200 Pa) from gestation day 0 to gestation day 5 (GD 0–5). Fetal growth and development indicators on GD12 and GD18 between experimental and control groups were compared. Statistical results showed that, compared to the control group, the key indicators in the experimental group, including placental weight, placental diameter, fetal weight, and crown-to-rump length have decreased by 4.77%, 3.38%, 6.20%, and 3.75% respectively on GD18. The findings imply that the pressure fluctuation environment of high-speed trains has potential effects on the fetal growth of SD rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we address the problem of damage diagnosis on the railway pantograph mechanism including nonlinear behaviour and sample-induced uncertainties. In particular, we discuss an experimental campaign in which investigation pursued the analysis of frequency response functions estimated by a dedicated inspection robot that we intentionally developed for vibration tests on pantographs. Special focus is pointed to the inherent nonlinear behaviour of the pantograph for which we estimated the damage index for different levels of the input excitation. The investigation is carried out on a population of pantographs of the same type and studying three kinds of damages. Results highlight the relevance of including several excitation levels and encourage investigation in a real operational scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust data-driven method for on-board vibration-based degradation detection in railway suspensions of running vehicles is introduced. The method employs two lateral vibration acceleration sensors per vehicle half, one on the bogie and one on the vehicle body. It is based on Transmittance Function data-driven models of the AutoRegressive with eXogenous excitation type within an unsupervised Multiple Model framework and aims at effective detection of early-stage component degradation while achieving robustness to varying Operating Conditions. The method is validated via thousands of Monte Carlo simulation experiments under three distinct travelling speeds. Through them, perfect detection performance is demonstrated for 'small' level degradation, characterised by $ 20\% $ 20 % reduction in the properties of suspension components, while even 'minor' degradation, characterised by $ 10\% $ 10 % reduction, is detectable but somewhat less effectively. The very good performance characteristics of the method are confirmed via field tests as well, while its superiority over alternative schemes is demonstrated via comparisons with a state-of-the-art entropy-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground galleries possess random subsidence threats if they are not treated well. Threats even become multifold when these galleries are located somewhere in the vicinity of the railway tracks. So, checking the stable ground formation or the health of the subsurface formation near railway tracks and mapping the galleries are very important tasks for the sake of the environment, economy and lives. Galleries under the present study are associated with the coal seam-X and seam-XA of the Jogidih Colliery of Jharia Coalfield. Seven electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles and magnetic surveys were performed at a side of the railway track to characterize the subsurface formation near railway tracks and to detect the gallery and its extension. Both ERT and magnetic data analysis suggest the presence of some galleries at a certain distance from the railway tracks. Moreover, combined analysis of ERT and magnetic data suggests that ground within ~20 m from the railway tracks is found to be stable with homogeneous compact formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of research on the influence of risk factors on the implementation of railway investments in Poland (build stage) and deals with a detailed diagnosis of relation between factors. The application of DEcision MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method for the analyses allowed to develop a cause-and-effect model of key factors and analyse the importance of the factors. Eleven factors identified in eariel studies as the most important risk factors were examined. It was found that the factors: errors in the preparation of tender documents (10.38%), errors in project documentation (10.02%), improperly estimated time of completion of the investment by the Employer (9.82%), internal regulations of PKP Polskie Koleje Państwowe S.A. (Polish State Railways) not coordinated with the provisions of contracts (9.51%) have the highest degree of importance. Factors: too many external institutions involved in the investment process and internal regulations of PKP Polskie Koleje Państwowe S.A. (Polish State Railways) not coordinated with the provisions of contracts, have the greatest net impact on the other factors. The relations between the factors and factors importance are valuable knowledge for engineers, enabling the project to be implemented according to the planned schedule and investment cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a high-precision obstacle detection algorithm using 3D mechanical LiDAR to meet railway safety requirements. To address the potential errors in the point cloud, we propose a calibration method based on projection and a novel rail extraction algorithm that effectively handles terrain variations and preserves the point cloud characteristics of the track area. We address the limitations of the traditional process involving fixed Euclidean thresholds by proposing a modulation function based on directional density variations to adjust the threshold dynamically. Finally, using PCA and local-ICP, we conduct feature analysis and classification of the clustered data to obtain the obstacle clusters. We conducted continuous experiments on the testing site, and the results showed that our system and algorithm achieved an STDR (stable detection rate) of over 95% for obstacles with a size of 15 cm × 15 cm × 15 cm in the range of ±25 m; at the same time, for obstacles of 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm, an STDR of over 80% was achieved within a range of ±20 m. This research provides a possible solution and approach for railway security via obstacle detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the growing demand for railway obstacle monitoring, lidar technology has emerged as an up-and-coming solution. In this study, we developed a mechanical 3D lidar system and meticulously calibrated the point cloud transformation to monitor specific areas precisely. Based on this foundation, we have devised a novel set of algorithms for obstacle detection within point clouds. These algorithms encompass three key steps: (a) the segmentation of ground point clouds and extraction of track point clouds using our RS-Lo-RANSAC (region select Lo-RANSAC) algorithm; (b) the registration of the BP (background point cloud) and FP (foreground point cloud) via an improved Robust ICP algorithm; and (c) obstacle recognition based on the VFOR (voxel-based feature obstacle recognition) algorithm from the fused point clouds. This set of algorithms has demonstrated robustness and operational efficiency in our experiments on a dataset obtained from an experimental field. Notably, it enables monitoring obstacles with dimensions of 15 cm × 15 cm × 15 cm. Overall, our study showcases the immense potential of lidar technology in railway obstacle monitoring, presenting a promising solution to enhance safety in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2008, Vietnam's Prime Minister approved the construction of the 'Hanoi Urban Railway System', a major infrastructure project for the country's capital city. The construction of Line 2A, the first line of this 8‐line railway, took ten years to complete, and was finally inaugurated in November 2021. Spanning 13 km across the city centre, Line 2A encountered more than just construction setbacks, with its reputation tarnished by contractor choice, accidents, and public scepticism over safety and accessibility. Sowing further seeds of doubt in the minds of many Hanoi residents is the fact that two‐thirds of the original financing came from preferential loans from Vietnam's large northern neighbour, conditional on the contractor and key materials being sourced from Vietnam's large, northern neighbour. Moreover, the project is informally categorized as part of Vietnam's large northern neighbour's Belt and Road Initiative. Drawing from conceptual literature regarding infrastructural politics and mobility (in)justice, we analyse how Hanoi residents have experienced and negotiated the construction of this Chinese‐Vietnamese infrastructure project. In particular, we consider how the livelihoods of those directly affected by the railway's operations, namely motorbike taxi‐drivers, have been impacted to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the historical origins of the term red-light district. It argues that red lights became associated with prostitution in the United States not only because of red's popularity in the decor of nighttime businesses but also because of color symbolism popularized by the transportation revolution. As red signal lights on railroads came to indicate "stop—danger," people accustomed to viewing prostitution as a moral and physical threat read that symbolism onto nighttime businesses' existing practices of display. Meanwhile, places of prostitution that were located near railroad tracks in the American West embraced the red light as a form of advertising. The red light's simultaneous status as a lure and warning captured ambivalent responses to prostitution. As a result, it became a potent symbol of late nineteenth-century efforts to keep the sex trade at arm's length while also treating it as ineradicable. When city officials tried to control the harms of prostitution by segregating it, the products of their efforts came to be known as "red-light districts." Although the term has in some ways transcended its roots, scholars should be conscientious about their use of it given its implicit moralization of both the sex trade and urban space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the railway industry, there is ongoing research on incorporating large-capacity energy storage system (ESS) into railway vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in ESSs due to their high energy density. However, their high chemical reactivity can lead to a higher risk of malfunction. This compromises the reliability of railway vehicles using a high-capacity ESS as a propulsion power source. This study aims to improve the reliability of the battery packs used in railway vehicles by introducing a novel circuit configuration that integrates a bypass circuit into the traditional redundant circuit configuration used in lithium batteries. In conventional ESS systems, an additional battery pack needs to be equipped to sustain normal operation in the case of a battery malfunction event. However, this leads to a substantial increase in the volume and weight of the ESS. The circuit configuration proposed in this paper guarantees the normal operation of the ESS in the case of a battery failure using a few additional circuit components. The feasibility of the proposed circuit configuration and its operation are examined using railway vehicle battery pack specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the transformations of informal transportation practices in Siberia as an example of the process of social embedding of infrastructure in remote regions. Research about informal transportation is predominantly based on studies of minibuses, motorcycles, rikshaws and other small, low-performance vehicles. Meanwhile, the railroad often best exemplifies formalization, control, and surveillance, the characteristics opposite to informal practices. On the basis of information gathered from local and regional archives and semi-formal interviews with railroad workers, their families, and BAM builders (2016–2020), this paper traces the roots of embeddedness in specific norms and expectations that formed during construction of the railroad and persisted during its operation. Informal transportation became the norm and a resource for coping with a lack of infrastructure. Recent reforms have changed the railroad from a public system to a private, profit-seeking, dis-embedded enterprise. This process affects local communities' access to the railroad. Workers' trains, or okurki, are a last refuge for the retention of local mobility mostly in an informal way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is important to China's development vision. Under the BRI, Chinese policymakers have focused on exporting railway systems to developing countries, yet progress on some projects remains limited. This article focuses on delays associated with a planned railway project in Pakistan: the ML-1. It answers the following question: What explains delays in the ML-1 railway project despite strong Chinese interest in it? The article uses a two-step conceptual framework to answer this question. In the first step, it highlights the role of railway bureaucrats involved in project-level negotiations. It shows that local bureaucrats contribute to delays by actively negotiating technical parameters. Chinese firms have limited policy levers to ensure their acquiescence. In the second step, the article places delays in the context of Pakistan's political economy by analysing the role of the political and military elite. It also explores the impact of political change and economic factors on the project. Projects not in sync with the local political elites' development vision face delays. Domestic political changes also contribute to delays. Furthermore, a failure to gain major veto actors' support, coupled with economic problems and differences over financing terms, constrains China's ability to pursue large-scale projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Railway track detection, which is crucial for train operational safety, faces numerous challenges such as the curved track, obstacle occlusion, and vibrations during the train's operation. Most existing methods for railway track detection use a camera or LiDAR. However, the vision-based approach lacks essential 3D environmental information about the train, while the LiDAR-based approach tends to detect tracks of insufficient length due to the inherent limitations of LiDAR. In this study, we propose a real-time method for railway track detection and 3D fitting based on camera and LiDAR fusion sensing. Semantic segmentation of the railway track in the image is performed, followed by inverse projection to obtain 3D information of the distant railway track. Then, 3D fitting is applied to the inverse projection of the railway track for track vectorization and LiDAR railway track point segmentation. The extrinsic parameters necessary for inverse projection are continuously optimized to ensure robustness against variations in extrinsic parameters during the train's operation. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves desirable accuracy for railway track detection and 3D fitting with acceptable computational efficiency, and outperforms existing approaches based on LiDAR, camera, and camera–LiDAR fusion. To the best of our knowledge, our approach represents the first successful attempt to fuse camera and LiDAR data for real-time railway track detection and 3D fitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated railway security systems prevent train collisions with trackside obstructions that cause accidents in high-speed railways. Rail safety is being improved and accident rates reduced through continuous research. A rapid advancement in deep learning has promoted new possibilities for research in this field. In this work, a novel deep learning-based FOD-YOLO net is proposed for detecting the fasteners faults and objects in the railway tracks. There are two basic components in the deep learning-based YOLOv8: the backbone and the head. YOLOv8 utilizes an improved version of the CSPDarknet53 network for detecting objects on the railway track. The head of YOLOv8 consists of EfficientNet with various convolutional layers with squeeze and excitation blocks for detecting any defect in the track fasteners. These layers are liable for detecting the objectness scores, bounding boxes and class probabilities structured with fully connected layers for the objects and faults in tracks. Based on the results from the Yolo network, the alert message is sent to the loco pilot to avoid accidents using fuzzy logic. The experimental fallouts of proposed FOD-YOLO net achieve higher accuracy and yields better evaluation results with 98.14% accuracy, 98.84% precision and 95.94% recall. From the experimental results, the FOD-YOLO net improves the overall accuracy range by 5.44%, 4.72%, 0.73%, and 13.18% better than Fast RCNN, YOLOv5s-VF, YOLO-GD, and 2D-SSA + Deep network respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Railway communication is undergoing a transitional period worldwide, and 5G for railway (5G-R), which has been adopted by the Railway International Union (UIC) in China and in many other countries, which is a common concern all over the world. The 2100 MHz frequency band, which ranks among the top three mainstream frequency bands for public 5G network deployment globally, has recently been issued by MIIT for a 5G-R trial in China, and the frequency is fairly close to 5G-R frequency band of 1900 MHz in Europe. Propagation study for railway communication, especially for mainline, which is the most common and widely used scenario, is of great importance, because it is closely related to passengers' lives and properties. In this article, based on the 5G-R dedicated network testing environment constructed along the test line of loop railway of National Railway Track Test Center of China, the 2100 MHz 5G-R propagation measurement campaign is conducted, with an in-service SS-RSRP signal-based passive 2100 MHz large-scale channel testing system, as well as a SDR-based 2100 MHz 5G-R channel sounding system, based on which the large-scale as well as small-scale channel characteristics are derived and extensively analyzed. With data derived from the passive testing system, the classical FI, CI as well as TR 38.901 large-scale channel models are properly fitted and compared by calculating RMSE as well as MAE values. Moreover, based on the SDR-based channel sounding system, conclusions on the relationship between the parameters of multi-path component numbers, RMS time spread, received power and distance between the transmitter and the receiver are drawn. The 5G-R system studied in this letter is symmetric FDD communication system, apart from the 2 aspects of channel modeling characteristics, which are large-scale and small-scale complementing each other, the research methodology adopted of the letter also has two aspects, passive measurement, as well as active measurement, and both methods have their own advantages and different focuses, which can also complements each other. Relevant research results of this letter will be helpful for facilitating the R&D, deployment, as well as network optimization of a future mobile communication system under railway mainline scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of computational analysis of the stress-strain state of reinforced concrete spans of the railway (single-track railway line) overpass over the highway, under specified loads using spatial finite element models. The static load consists of a cohesion of three TEM-18 diesel locomotives and two loaded gondola cars (up to 25 tons per axle). The purpose of this study was to ensure reliable and safe operation of artificial structures on the railroads, as there is a constant increase in transit freight trains from China through the territory of Kazakhstan to near and far abroad, and often the load on the axle reaches 25 tons, and sometimes larger values – up to 27 tons per axle. The results of the study are recommended to be used for inspections and tests of typical girder bridge spans, as well as in the case of monitoring their technical condition with increasing operational loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of the natural frequencies of vibrations of the span structure during the express-diagnostics, to excite the process of vibrations of the structure the pulse impact of the concentrated load of small mass is applied in the middle of the span structure (the method of small pulse impacts – “human jump”). The analysis of the obtained data, allowed to establish the parameters of free vibrations of unloaded span structures, the predominant frequencies on the graph of spectral density of dispersion are identical, regardless of the number of jumps, that is, the frequency of impact, if the time between jumps corresponds to the complete damping of vibrations. Of practical interest in the assessment of the technical condition is a quantitative assessment of the change in the natural frequency of vibration of girder metal and reinforced concrete spans depending on the presence of defects accumulated during the operation of the bridge. The obtained characteristics can serve as initial data, increasing the accuracy of calculations for calculations of artificial structures for seismic resistance, as well as in dynamic stability calculations for prospective loads and in the development of a model of the structure, the formation of algorithms of tasks to identify defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new compact spring-based Auto-Tensioning Device (ATD) is designed using TRIZ methodology complying the Indian railway standards having reduced weight and maintains the constant tension. Analytical calculations are done and verified with FE analysis by conducting Multibody Dynamic (MBD) analysis along with structural analysis to optimize the stress generation in individual components. The spring ATD reduces significant weight and maintains constant tension in the contact and catenary cables, thereby preventing failures due to sag and tension variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across a range of recent terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom, the question of how crowds behave in confined public space is an important concern. Classical theoretical assumptions are that human behaviour in such contexts is relatively uniform, self‐interested and pathological. We contest these assumptions by reporting on a study of public response to a marauding knife attack that occurred on London's underground rail network in 2015. The analysis draws primarily upon footage from 27 CCTV cameras positioned across the station footprint supplemented by social media, news footage, radio logs and incident reports. Using an innovative methodology, we topographically and chronologically mapped behaviours during the incident. The analysis demonstrates that while rapid egressions occurred as the threat escalated, at every phase of the incident members of the public intervened spontaneously with coordinated, purposeful, socially oriented actions. This behavioural pattern contrasts with classical assumptions of a chaotic and apathetic crowd in emergencies. We highlight eight complementary categories of actions in the public response that appeared functional for the collective safety of the crowd during the short period before the police arrived. The policy implications for emergency planning, and the methodological innovations involving the use of video data are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the trade imbalance and poor management, a large number of empty containers are piled up after unpacking in importing regions, while the export-oriented areas are in urgent need of empty containers for replenishment. This paper aims to determine the volume of empty containers transferred from the surplus area to the shortage area and the inventory of each node from the operational level. We subdivide container freight stations into rail stations and road stations and consider using sea, road, and railway as transportation modes to transfer empty containers. A multi-period linear programing model of multimodal empty container repositioning is established aiming at minimizing the cost of empty container repositioning. A real case study of the transportation network in Northeast China is conducted to demonstrate that using multiple modes of transportation can significantly reduce the cost of empty container repositioning compared to using a single mode of transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Railway overhead contact lines are very low-damped structures with a high modal density in the low-frequency region. This has a significant impact on the interaction with the pantograph, especially in the high-speed case and in multiple pantographs operations. This paper studies the optimal spatial damping distribution in overhead contact lines obtained by introducing localised damping connections, resulting in a non-proportional damping distribution. To this end, the simulation software Cateway is presented and adopted in conjunction with evolutionary multi-objective optimisers to seek for the most efficient spatial damping distribution. The study is conducted on a high-speed reference model considering two different train speeds. The final goal of this optimisation is to obtain useful hints about the most and least sensitive regions to damping modifications. A dedicated study on the locus of the poles of the system is also proposed to corroborate the findings of the analysis. Results show that significant improvements on the current collection quality can be achieved by carefully designing the spatial damping distribution, especially for the rear (trailing) pantograph. On the other hand, wrong design choices can lead to a degradation of the contact forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective railway transportation can be conducive to sustainable development of society and economy, thus highlighting the importance of studies on railway transportation effectiveness. In this case, the research establishes a methodology to evaluate railway transportation effectiveness during the period from 2005 to 2019 in China. Firstly, the research determines the indexes for evaluation of railway transportation effectiveness from the perspective of input-output. Subsequently, the research uses criteria importance though intercrieria correlation (CRITIC) model and the cross-efficiency evaluation model to evaluate railway transportation operation capacity and efficiency, respectively. Finally, the research establishes the Euclidean distance coordination degree method (EDCD) to measure railway transportation effectiveness. The results show that: (1) the characteristics of the China's railway transportation operation capacity has significantly increased; (2) the characteristics of the China's railway transportation efficiency has experienced the ascent-descent-ascent variations; (3) the characteristics of China's railway transportation effectiveness presents the ascent-descent-ascent variations, which is basically consistent with the characteristics of railway transportation efficiency. The proposed methodology could be used to make decisions for railway transportation enterprise to scientifically coordinate the reasonable growth of railway transportation operation capacity and the effective improvement of railway transportation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The San Michele Bridge in Paderno, Italy, is a prime example of the refurbishment of a historic structure. An architectural and historical landmark, it is the last of a remarkable group of trussed arch bridges built in the late XIX century to be fully operational, and serves the Seregno-Bergamo railway line and the provincial road SP54/166 connecting Paderno d'Adda and Calusco. In 2014, after 130 years of service, the bridge was subjected to an extensive survey and inspection campaign to acquire a more profound knowledge of the structure and its reliability. Overall, the inspections revealed that the bridge was still in a decent state but needed refurbishment. This article will briefly present the challenges faced in the design and execution of the refurbishment works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using dynamic game theory, this paper analyzes the interest relationship between government supervision departments, railway passenger transport enterprises and integrated service agents in the service management system of railway passenger transport enterprises in China. A tripartite dynamic game model of government supervision department, railway passenger transport enterprise and integrated service agent is established. Inverse induction algorithm is used to solve the game model, and the expected return equilibrium solution of government supervision department, railway passenger transport enterprise and integrated service agent is analyzed. The results show that the cost of railway passenger transport service management and the intensity of management are important factors affecting the implementation of service requirements by railway passenger transport enterprises and integrated service agents. Therefore, the government supervision department should reduce the management cost, design a reasonable reward and punishment mechanism, and improve the enthusiasm of railway passenger transport enterprises and integrated service agents to strengthen service management and improve service quality. Railway passenger transport enterprises and integrated service agents should actively strengthen service management, improve service quality, reduce management pressure and cost at the next level, and promote the healthy development of railway passenger transport market through a virtuous cycle between the three. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the influence of an unsupported sleeper on the vertical bearing characteristics of heavy-haul railway ballast, a three-dimensional discrete element model (DEM) was established for a ballasted track, by removing ballast particles that come into contact with the bottom of the sleeper from the model to simulate the unsupported sleeper. Vertical bearing characteristics for ballast on different types of unsupported sleepers were studied. The results showed that an unsupported sleeper could reduce the bearing area of the ballast below the sleeper and reduce the number of ballast particles that were in contact. It could also lead to an increase in the maximum contact force between the particles, accelerating the deterioration of the particles (thus affecting the overall performance of the ballast) and reducing the vertical stiffness of the ballast. As the unsupported length and width increased, vertical stiffness gradually decreased. The vertical ballast stiffness for an unsupported sleeper was then used in a dynamic coupled vehicle/track model, and the effect of the unsupported sleeper on wheel/rail interaction was analyzed. Results showed that increasing the unsupported length and width leads to a decrease in the supporting force on the unsupported sleeper and to an increase in the supporting force on the adjacent sleepers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medium low-speed maglev trains cause coupling vibration when moving over flexible bridges, which has a detrimental effect on the overall system. To effectively improve the global performance of the train-bridge system, this study proposes a parameter optimization approach that integrates a numerical model, a neural network, and a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm. A three-car maglev train-bridge coupling system is first modeled based on finite element, multi-body dynamics, and the levitation control theory. Based on this, the dynamic response and parameter sensitivity of the system is investigated using simulation analysis and the Sobol method. To enhance the optimization efficiency, an improved neural network is employed to simulate the nonlinear relationship between key parameters and dynamic performance, thereby surrogating the numerical model. The NSGA-III algorithm with a reference point mechanism is used to search for the optimal solution of the key parameters. Finally, simulation experiments verify the validity and accuracy of the neural network and the optimization results. This approach takes into account the coupling effect between multiple parameters and significantly enhances the computational efficiency compared with traditional rail transportation optimization methods. The dynamic response of the maglev system, considering the car-body flexibility, demonstrates that the optimization approach effectively improves the safety and stability of the train and further reduces the negative effect of the car-body's elastic vibration on the operation quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrations generated in the metro transport environment are mainly caused by, vibrations generated by the interaction between the metro and the track during operation. and the change of vibration factors will affect the normal operation of the subway. However, it is difficult to have a model that can achieve the characteristics of high accuracy, fast computing speed and wide range of use in the traditional metro rail transportation environment prediction. Therefore, this research uses database theory and machine learning algorithms to predict the vibration of subway transportation environment. The experimental results show that the average difference between the whole prediction value and the real value is 1.4 dB, of which the maximum difference error value is 0.29%, the maximum error difference is 8.2%, and the approximate value is 6.2 dB, and the four averages predicted in 40 m are relatively small as 1.6 dB, and the average error value of prediction ability between 40 and 100 m is 1.72 dB, and the experimental prediction value and real value are in good agreement. The agreement between the experimental prediction and the real value is very good. Therefore, the model is able to predict the vibration model of the subway transportation environment with a high degree of agreement and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the increasing number of mentally ill people experiencing homelessness, some policy‐makers have called for the expanded use of involuntary commitment, even for individuals who are not engaging in behaviors that are immediately life‐threatening. Yet there is no evidence that involuntary commitment offers long‐term benefits, and significant reasons to believe that expanding the practice will cause harm. In addition, these proposals ignore research showing that most people with mental illness have the capacity to make medical decisions for themselves. Rather than expanding the use of involuntary commitment, policy‐makers should support approaches proven to decrease the prevalence of homelessness, such as supportive housing. In addition, states should reevaluate their commitment standards for persons who pose no risk of harm to others. One promising approach is Northern Ireland's Mental Health Capacity Act of 2016, which establishes a uniform standard for imposing nonconsensual health care interventions, without any distinction between mental illnesses and other conditions in which capacity might be compromised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The serious wear problem of heavy-haul freight vehicle wheels affects the safety and economy of vehicle operation. This paper aims to study wheel wear evolution law and the influence of line parameters on wheel wear of heavy-haul freight, and provide the basis for operation and line maintenance. Design/methodology/approach: The wheel wear test data of heavy-haul freight vehicles were analyzed. Then a heavy-haul freight vehicle dynamic model was established. The line parameters influencing wheel wear in heavy-haul freight vehicles were also analyzed by the Jendel wear model, and the effects of rail cant, rail gauge, rail profile and line ramp on wheel wear were analyzed. Findings: A rail cant of 1:40 results in less wheel wear; an increase in the rail gauge can reduce wheel wear; and when matched with the CHN60 rail, the wear depth is relatively small. A decrease of 9.21% in wheel wear depth when matched with the CHN60 rail profile. The ramp of the heavy-haul line is necessary to consider for calculating wheel wear. When the ramp is considered, the wear depth increases by 8.47%. The larger the ramp, the greater the braking force and therefore, the greater of the wheel wear. Originality/value: This paper first summarizes the wear characteristics of wheels in heavy-haul freight vehicles and then systematically analyzes the effect of line parameters on wheel wear. In particular, this study researched the effects of rail cant, rail gauge, rail profile and line ramp on wheel wear. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-02-2024-0038/ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of night shift work on metabolic syndrome (MS) in railway workers. Methods In total 7 635 railway workers who took part in the physical examination in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University from September to December 2021 were selected as the research subjects. Logistic regression was used for correlation analysis and restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to analyze the dose-response relationship. Results The prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome in railway workers was 15.1%. After adjusting the confounding factors, former night shift (OR=1.198, 95%CI: 1.002-1.431) and current night shift (OR=1.219, 95%CI: 1.048-1.417), night shift duration of 6.0 ≤ < 11.0 years (OR=1.323, 95%CI: 1.092-1.603) and ≤ 11.0 years (OR=1.256, 95%CI: 1.029-1.534), night shift twice a week (OA=1.269, 95%CI: 1.074-1.498), 3 times (OR=1.217, 95%CI: 1.001-1.479), and ! 4 times (OR=1.295, 95%CI:1.032- 1.623) were significantly associated with the prevalence of MS in railway workers. The results of RCS showed that there was a linear positive correlation between the working years of night shift and the risk of MS (Ptotal<0.001, Pnon-linear=0.0760). The risk of MS began to increase after 1 year of night shift and reached the highest after 14.1 years. Conclusion Night shift work will 4ead to an increase in the risk of MS among rai4way workers, and the higher the number of years of night shift work, the higher the risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the economy, it is imperative to improve the quality of training for operational and managerial talents in the railway industry. To address issues such as efficiency, safety, and cost in railway industry practical training, it is crucial to establish a more comprehensive and efficient high-value virtual–real integration simulation experimental training resource. Therefore, this paper takes the actual work process as the core driving force, utilizes advanced information technology and intelligent devices, and is based on the comprehensive training platform for automatic control of physical trains combined with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipment. It achieves the integration of hardware and software construction to design and develop a comprehensive simulation training sand table system that incorporates functions such as training, demonstration, testing, and experiments. This system builds an integrated platform for training simulation functions, capable of simulating a railway centralized traffic control system, enabling railway dispatching simulation, driving simulation, and inspection simulation experiences. Additionally, it designs experimental processes at three levels: cognition, practical operation, and enhancement, tailored to the needs of talent development. The rail transportation training simulation sand table effectively reduces training costs and enhances the practical ability training quality of railway operation management personnel, meeting the requirements for talent development in the railway and related industries under new circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives an overview of the operating characteristics of the railway interline power flow controller (RIPFC) regarding the capability of transferring active power between two sections of an electrified railway line separated by a neutral zone and proposes its use for compensating the power factor at the substation instead of regulating the voltage level at the neutral zone. The basic analysis is based on simplified steady-state models for the energy supply architecture, while detailed time-domain simulations are used for more realistic tests. The paper mainly focus on active power balancing between two neighbouring substations and the global losses in the system. Other functionalities of the RIPFC system are also analysed, like reactive power compensation at the substations. The paper presents the main operating principles of the system, shows results for some representative scenarios (generic and reduced) and discusses the results. The most relevant conclusions are related to substation active power balancing and peak shaving, power factor compensation in the substation, voltage stability at the neutral zone and system power losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the rail environment, Lookouts protect workers on track by visually monitoring the environment and detecting approaching trains. It is therefore critically important that trains are easily detected by Lookouts. The specificity of standards regarding front-of-train colour designs are varied and ambiguous. As well, limited guidance is found in the body of literature on conspicuity regarding how it applies to the rail and broader transport industry. In visual perception research, conflicting views exist on whether colour is important in determining object conspicuity. The present study seeks to address this research gap by employing a novel use of virtual reality (VR) technology, to simulate a train detection task for Lookouts. The experiments investigated (1) whether train conspicuity differs for varying train types under different ambient conditions, and (2) whether colour is important for improving train conspicuity. We found differences in the time taken to detect different train types, providing evidence that train conspicuity is affected by front-of-train design. However, the observed conspicuity differences between train types were not due to chromatic colour differences. The study findings raise interesting questions regarding the role of colour in visual detection tasks and demonstrates a novel application of empirical research to address rail industry issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dealing with a mass casualty incident presents many challenges in the clinical and preclinical situation. There are various systems and structures to address this problem. In the present work, the management of the train accident near Garmisch-Partenkirchen on 3 June 2022 is evaluated with the aid of the recommendations of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief for hospital alarm and deployment planning as well as the recommendations from the terror and disaster surgical care training of the German Academy of Trauma Surgery and the findings are presented from the perspective of a regional trauma center. It also discusses which key factors in the present case have proved to be successful and in which areas there is still a need for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transportation facilities are characterized by high population density and significant passenger turnover. These environments provide optimal conditions for the transmission of airborne microorganisms. We collected airborne microbial samples in transportation facilities in the Republic of Korea and characterize bacterial and fungal communities, and respiratory disease-associated viruses using qPCR, and derived regression equations. inhalation exposure levels were estimated based on the air concentration of microbiomes and the average weight and inhalation rate of Koreans. Microbial copy numbers were compared for significant differences based on facility type and season. The concentrations of bacteria (p < 0.001) and influenza A virus (p < 0.01) differed depending on the facility, whereas fungi showed variations based on the season (p < 0.001). Significant variations were noted, particularly in relation to the human rhinovirus, both in terms of seasonal patterns (p < 0.05) and between different facilities (p < 0.05). We found that human adenovirus (p < 0.01) and influenza A virus (p < 0.05) were positively influenced by particulate matter, while human rhinovirus was negatively affected by temperature (p < 0.05). Bacteria were positively influenced by CO2 (p < 0.001) and particulate matter (p < 0.01), whereas fungi were positively influenced by relative humidity (p < 0.001). The microbial inhalation exposure level among male children exceeded that among adult males (p < 0.05). Additionally, inhalation exposure to microbes was higher in trains than in train stations, which was attributed to the differences in usage times. Copyright © 2024 American Association for Aerosol Research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the complex and time-critical work practices within operational train traffic in Sweden by reporting on an incident causing an infrastructure breakdown and large traffic disruptions. Based on a workplace study approach, we report on how the control room workers – train traffic controllers and information officers – grasp, make sense of, and handle the consequences of the incident as it unfolds in real-time. We portray how the workers develop and acquire a sense of place in relation to the incident's severity which is essential for successfully handling the situation. By introducing the 'sense of place' concept originally derived from the field of natural resources to the domain of operational train traffic, we provide a deepened understanding of the challenges characterising remote control work from a safety-critical socio-technical systems perspective. Finally, reflections on the application of the 'sense of place' concept, safety aspects and directions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional demand-prediction methods predominantly rely on past user behaviors to predict regular future transportation demands using acquired user preference data. Nevertheless, predicting unforeseen travel demands arising from bad weather or emergency events remains challenging owing to the absence of data on such future contingencies. This study introduces a method to predict travel demand by leveraging search history data, which potentially signal unforeseen travel requirements. We elucidate the correlation between the search count and integrated circuit (IC) card usage on an aggregate level. Subsequently, we propose a two-stage analytical technique to estimate the number of IC card usages based on route-search counts. Our findings demonstrate that the proposed model has superior accuracy, and the route-search count plays a pivotal role in predicting the number of IC card usages, especially unforeseen shifts in demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paris-Lyon line is the busiest High-Speed Line in Europe and has been open to competition in open access since December 18, 2021. The main objective of the paper is to explore the effects for users with respect to price and frequency compare with the existing literature. The analysis is based on a large database (n = 1243) collected by web scraping from September 2019 to October 2022. The method relies on a descriptive analysis with a similar route without competition (Paris-Bordeaux) in the comparison group. The results highlight an increase of frequency by 15% and a decrease in price by 23%. The prices charged by the newcomer are lower than those of the incumbent (−30% to −50%). The comparison with the control route suggests a positive effect on price that moderates the economic catch-up effect following the COVID-19 pandemic in an inflationary context. More specifically, SNCF appears to take a wait and see attitude to competitive pressure from Trenitalia. It has moderated its prices since the new offer was introduced and has maintained its trains. • Competition have a positive effect on user welfare. • Barriers to competition underscore the importance of public regulation for success. • Incumbent adopts a wait and see attitude in response to competitive pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rail transit airport lines, as fast passages connecting urban areas and airports, play an important role in facilitating residents' travel and optimizing urban spatial layout. This study aims to explore the passenger flow characteristics of airport landside modes under three kinds of rail transit access form: dedicated, general, and mixed. On the basis of analyzing the access features of different airport lines, a three-level nested logit (TLNL) model is proposed to explore the decision-making mechanism of passengers' landside mode choice in two stages. Then, taking the rail transit of Beijing Daxing International Airport as an example, scenario application is carried out to discuss the change of the landside mode sharing rate after the airport line is extended. The results show that the access form of rail transit has no essential impact on the landside traffic structure. When the airport line extends to the urban area, its sharing rate increases significantly, the passenger attraction effect of the dedicated line being significantly better than the other two forms. Extending the airport line downtown and connecting with large transport hubs can reduce the number of transfers, effectively managing the contradiction between passengers' travel convenience and comfort. In general, the TLNL model has good applicability to the analysis of how rail transit affects the sharing rate of landside modes; the results can provide reference and ideas for the selection and planning of rail airport line access forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]