Rail-road terminals are the chain links in intermodal rail-road transportation where standardized load units (containers, swap bodies and trailers) are transfered from trucks to trains and vice versa. We consider three subproblems of the operational planning process at rail-road terminals that terminal operators are facing in their daily operations. These are the optimization problems storage planning, load planning and crane planning. The aim of storage planning is to determine load unit storage positions for a set of load units in a partially filled storage area. Here, different restrictions like non-overlapping of stored load units have to be respected. The objective of storage planning is to minimize the total transportation costs and the number of load units that are not stored at the ground level. For the load planning we assume a scenario of overbooked trains. So, the aim of load planning is to assign a subset of the load units that are booked on a train to feasible positions on the wagons such that the utilization of the train is maximized and the costs for the handling in the terminal are minimized. For the feasible positioning of load units length and weight restrictions for the wagons and the train have to be respected. For the load planning of trains we consider a deterministic version and a robust approach motivated by uncertainty in the input data. The last considered optimization problem is the crane planning. The crane planning determines the transfer of the load units by crane between the different transportation modes. For each crane a working plan is computed which contains a subset of the load units that have to be handled together with individual start times for the transfer operations. For the load units which have to be transfered in the terminal, storage and load planning compute destination positions (inside the terminal). These destination positions are part of the input for the crane planning. The main objective of crane planning is to minimize the total length of the empty crane moves that have to be performed between successive transports of load units by the cranes. We provide MIP-models for all three subproblems of the operational planning process at rail-road terminals. For the storage and crane planning we also propose fast heuristics. Furthermore, we present and compare computational results based on real world data for all subproblems. The main contributions of this thesis concern load and storage planning. For the deterministic load planning we provide the first model that represents all practical constraints including physical weight restrictions. For the load planning we furthermore present robustness approaches for different practical uncertainties. For the storage planning we provide complexity results for different variants. For the practical setting we developed a heuristic which is able to compute solutions of high quality in a small amount of runtime.

In a future vision for rail travel, trains will be designed as an activity-based whole space, with different areas for various activities, such as relaxing, socialising or family bonding. My degree project, in collaboration with SJ, proposes a concept carriage dedicated to work, analogous to spending a day at a mobile coworking space. By recognising the new ways of working, this carriage will cater for the needs of different individuals and various types of work and will include private digital meeting spaces, group compartments, collaborative open spaces and cocoon-like seating options in quiet areas. Unlike other modes of transportation, trains allow for passengers to navigate and experience different spaces. By enhancing the use of space and incorporating amenities that improve the user experience, I aim to transform the perception of long train journeys from tedious to exciting and allow a more seamless and efficient way of getting work done while travelling. Ultimately, this degree project encourages sustainable travel through user-centred design.

No description available.

The purpose of this research is to analyze the use of the public train usage in Central Florida to determine the feasibility of high-speed rail usage in the future. This study will be split into parts and expanded upon. The first part will observe rider perspective, values, and issues regarding rail transportation as is available in Central Florida. In further installations, which will be conducted separately from this thesis, there will be an analysis of the providers of rail transportation. It is hypothesized that there will be a moderate demand for rail transportation used by the public. Original: The main purpose of this descriptive research is to describe the feasibility of high speed rail in the United States. Feasibility is defined as the determining factor in the sustainability of a project. In the case of this research study, high speed rail is the project and is defined as a specialized railroad system, including dedicated tracks and specialized rolling stock, that travels upward of 125mph. It is hypothesized that the feasibility in high speed rail is high due to the current functioning transportation systems in Florida.

Due to the increase in demand on freight transportation it becomes necessary to avoid delays to ensure that the goods reach its destination on time. The main factors causing disturbances in the traffic on the mainline is the breakdown of vehicles mainly due to damaged wheels. The damaged wheels are identified through the wheel-rail impact force measurements provided by the wheel impact load detectors (WILD). This calls for the optimal schedule of maintenance of wheelsets and wagons in general. During the maintenance, the officials manually check for defective wheels and the exchange of wheelsets is performed based on the type of damage. The classification of wheel damages plays a vital role in providing ease of damage identification and insights to deduce a strategy for wheelset exchange. In this study, an attempt to classify the damaged wheelsets is done by analysing the wheel-rail impact force data from the wayside detectors. The data from the detectors are acquired from PredgeAB, a Luleå based startup pioneering in providing decision support on optimal maintenance schedules and predictive maintenance of rail wheels. Through their detection and prediction solutions it was observed that of all the wheels marked as damaged by the detectors 10% were undamaged. The source of the deviation in the impact force readings could help Predge make better estimations in damage detection and prediction. In this study, the sources contributing to the deviation is studied using multi-body simulations in GENSYS. A new method for modelling wheel damage is developed to overcome the shortcomings of the software. The findings of this study can then be used appropriately to make classifications of wheel damages. / På grund av den ökade efterfrågan på godstransporter är det nödvändigt attundvika förseningar för att säkerställa att varorna når sin destination i tid. Deviktigaste faktorerna som orsakar störningar i trafiken på huvudlinjen är stopp ispår av fordon, främst på grund av skadade hjul. De skadade hjulen identifierasmed hjälp av mätningar av slagkraft mellan hjul och spår som tillhandahållsav hjulbelastningsdetektorer (WILD). Detta kräver ett optimerat schema förunderhåll av hjulsatser och vagnar i allmänhet. Under underhållet kontrollerartjänstemännen manuellt för defekta hjul och utbytet av hjulsatser utförs baserat på typen av skada. Klassificeringen av hjulskador spelar en viktig roll närdet gäller att underlätta identifiering av skador och ge insikt för att bedöma enstrategi för hjulbyte. I den här studien görs ett försök att klassificera de skadade hjulsatserna genom att analysera data från slagkraften mellan spår ochhjul från detektorer. Uppgifterna från detektorerna hämtas från PredgeAB, enLuleå-baserad uppstartsbolag som är pionjärer för att ge beslutsstöd om optimala underhållsscheman och prediktivt underhåll av järnvägshjul. Genom sinadetekterings- och prediktiva lösningar observerades att 10% av alla hjul märktasom skadade av detektorerna var oskadade. Källan till avvikelsen i slagkraftavläsningarna kan hjälpa Predge att göra bättre uppskattningar när det gällerupptäckning och förutsägelse av skador. I den här studien studeras de källorsom bidrar till avvikelsen med simuleringar av flera kroppar i GENSYS. En nymetod för modellering av hjulskador har utvecklats för att övervinna programvarans brister. Resultaten av denna studie skulle kunna användas på lämpligtsätt för att göra klassificeringar av hjulskador.

This study focuses on the reliability of railway track in the relation with high loads resulted from wheel damages, where higher (dynamic) vertical wheel loads are expected from trains with damaged wheels. The Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) has monitored and recorded data of rail defects and breaks. This data is important for the risk evaluation and management process, in order to obtain a balance between the maintenance costs and availability and quality of service for the railway transportation. To detect wheel damages in advance, Wheel Impact Loads (WIL) are measured and recorded by Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD), which are installed along the Swedish railway network, currently at 29 locations. Additionally, to detect defects and breakages in rails, Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is a common non-destructive testing method used by Trafikverket. In this project, a case study is conducted to examine statistically the frequency of rail defects and rail breaks after trains with high WILs, which exceed 350 kN, continued to operate in a defined area during the winter of 2019/20 at Bodsjön. The case study compares the data of WILD at Bodsjön and UT of the nearby track sections, 211 and 212, over a period of five years, from 2016 to 2020. Rail reliability levels are examined based on the absolute frequencies of rail defects detected by UT and the normalised ones per kilometre of UT-checked track, as well as the severity levels of those rail defects. The severity levels are denoted from the highest to the lowest, as 1a/ 1v/ 1m, 2b and 3i, based on the derailment risks and the priority of maintenance. It is observed that the extremely high WILs in the winter 2019/2020 has coincided with the more severe rail defects found by the following UT in 2020. Furthermore, the dominant rail defect type is found as squats. By studying the frequency of squats and their locations along the defined track sections, it is shown that there is a similar trend in the frequencies of squats and the high WILs. While, the effect of the high WILs’ magnitudes onto the occurrence of squats is undefined. However, the correlation between the frequencies and magnitudes of high WILs and the rail reliability levels could not be determined from this case study due to the limitations in the data collections. The current way of data collections for WILs, wheel damage types and rail defects are discussed for future works. Lastly, the statistics shows that the level of rail reliability of the area defined in the case study is considered as acceptable, considering the recent national levels that have been reported in the annual reports on rail defects. This gives the basis for the possibility of reviewing the permissible power level and proposing a new alert limit value of WIL. Nevertheless, considering the recommendation of The International Union of Railways (UIC) for the international railway sections, the implementation of the increased alert limit of WIL shall be examined carefully, with a future pilot study in railway sections that are not used for international traffic. / Denna studie fokuserar på tillförlitligheten för järnvägsspår i samband med höga laster som orsakas av hjulskador, där högre (dynamiska) vertikala hjullaster förväntas från tåg med skadade hjul. Trafikverket har övervakat och registrerat data om järnvägsfel och avbrott. Dessa uppgifter är viktiga för riskutvärderingen och hanteringsprocessen för att få en balans mellan underhållskostnader och tillgänglighet och kvalitet på järnvägstransportens kvalitet. För att upptäcka hjulskador i förväg, mäts och registreras Wheel Impact Loads (WIL) av Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD), som är installerade längs det svenska järnvägsnätet, för närvarande på 29 platser. För att upptäcka defekter och brott i skenor är Ultrasonic Testing (UT) en vanlig icke-destruktiv testmetod som används av Trafikverket.I det här projektet, genomförs en fallstudie för att statistiskt undersöka frekvensen av järnvägsdefekter och rälsavbrott efter tåg med höga WILs, som överstiger 350 kN, fortsatte att köra i ett definierat område under vintern 2019/20 vid Bodsjön. Fallstudien jämför data från WILD vid Bodsjön och UT för de närliggande spåravsnitten, 211 och 212, under en period på fem år, från 2016 till 2020. Järnvägssäkerhetsnivåer undersöks baserat på de absoluta frekvenserna av järnvägsdefekter som upptäcks av UT och de normaliserade per kilometer UT-kontrollerat spår, liksom svårighetsgraden av dessa järnvägsdefekter. Svårighetsgraderna anges från det högsta till det lägsta, som 1a/ 1v/ 1m, 2b och 3i, baserat på urspårningsriskerna och underhållets prioritet.Det observeras att de extremt höga WILs under vintern 2019/2020 har sammanfallit med de allvarligare järnvägsdefekterna som hittades av följande UT år 2020. Vidare återfinns den dominerande järnvägstypstypen som knäböj. Genom att studera frekvensen av knäböj och deras platser längs ett definierat spåravsnitt, visas det att det finns en liknande trend i frekvenserna för knäböj och de höga WILs. Medan effekten av de höga WILs storheter på förekomsten av knäböj är odefinierad. Korrelationen mellan frekvenserna och storheterna för höga WILs och järnvägssäkerhetsnivåerna kunde dock inte fastställas från denna fallstudie på grund av begränsningarna i datasamlingarna. Det nuvarande sättet för datainsamling för WILs, hjulskadetyper och järnvägsdefekter diskuteras för framtida arbeten.Slutligen visar statistiken att nivån på järnvägstillförlitlighet för det område som definieras i fallstudien anses vara acceptabel, med tanke på de senaste nationella nivåerna som har rapporterats i de årliga rapporterna om järnvägsdefekter. Detta ger grunden för möjligheten att granska den tillåtna effektnivån och föreslå ett nytt varningsgränsvärde för WIL. Med tanke på rekommendationen från The International Union of Railways (UIC) för de internationella järnvägssektionerna, ska genomförandet av den ökade varningsgränsen för WIL undersökas noggrant, med en framtida pilotstudie i järnvägssektioner som inte används för internationell trafik.

Rail transport refers to the transportation of various commodities, goods and services traded as cargo and freight within South Africa and out of South Africa for export to the other Southern African communities (SADC region), the rest of Africa and other continents of the world. It also refers to the imports into South Africa from the regions mentioned. Competitiveness relates to a country or company’s available resources and supporting policies and regulations in place which allow them to compete and do business locally, internationally and globally while improving the country’s economy and the company’s profitability. There are different criteria that can be used to determine the level of competitiveness, depending on each company or country’s capabilities. In the past years, the progress and development of the South African rail industry has been neglected and this has resulted in the rail transportation not being used. Railway line maintenance has become a challenge and service delivery is below customer expectations. Road transport has better availability and reliability, which has led companies to prefer road transport for freight. The main objective of this study is to reach a detailed understanding of the views of freight rail transport consumers and the impact of rail transport on the economic competitiveness of South Africa. Another important objective is to present the study in a format that is easily understandable. The approach adopted for this study is quantitative and uses a survey research questionnaire which was distributed to freight rail transport customers and providers. The data collected from the questionnaire was submitted to a statistical consultant service at North-West University. The statistical consultant analysed the data using the SPSS statistics computer programme to arrive at the results presented in this study. The overall findings from this study are that companies that use roads to transport freight do so because of the unavailability and unreliability of the freight rail transport provider Transnet Freight Rail and that these companies opt for road transport because they use a ‘just in time’ (JIT) system whereby a small quantity of stock is transported continuously which Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) does not accommodate. These factors have resulted in TFR’s poor service delivery. Therefore, a market demand strategy has been initiated by TFR to improve the performance of the company. It is important to note here that freight rail transport should concentrate on improving service delivery and not only on increasing capacity. The research participants indicated that the TFR objective to move freight back to rail could be accomplished. This will lessen the burden and damage to South African roads and reduce traffic congestion and accidents caused by trucks on the roads. It will also increase employment opportunities and the country’s economic competitiveness while reducing transport costs. All these aspects will make a significant impact on the economy of the country. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Rail transport refers to the transportation of various commodities, goods and services traded as cargo and freight within South Africa and out of South Africa for export to the other Southern African communities (SADC region), the rest of Africa and other continents of the world. It also refers to the imports into South Africa from the regions mentioned. Competitiveness relates to a country or company’s available resources and supporting policies and regulations in place which allow them to compete and do business locally, internationally and globally while improving the country’s economy and the company’s profitability. There are different criteria that can be used to determine the level of competitiveness, depending on each company or country’s capabilities. In the past years, the progress and development of the South African rail industry has been neglected and this has resulted in the rail transportation not being used. Railway line maintenance has become a challenge and service delivery is below customer expectations. Road transport has better availability and reliability, which has led companies to prefer road transport for freight. The main objective of this study is to reach a detailed understanding of the views of freight rail transport consumers and the impact of rail transport on the economic competitiveness of South Africa. Another important objective is to present the study in a format that is easily understandable. The approach adopted for this study is quantitative and uses a survey research questionnaire which was distributed to freight rail transport customers and providers. The data collected from the questionnaire was submitted to a statistical consultant service at North-West University. The statistical consultant analysed the data using the SPSS statistics computer programme to arrive at the results presented in this study. The overall findings from this study are that companies that use roads to transport freight do so because of the unavailability and unreliability of the freight rail transport provider Transnet Freight Rail and that these companies opt for road transport because they use a ‘just in time’ (JIT) system whereby a small quantity of stock is transported continuously which Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) does not accommodate. These factors have resulted in TFR’s poor service delivery. Therefore, a market demand strategy has been initiated by TFR to improve the performance of the company. It is important to note here that freight rail transport should concentrate on improving service delivery and not only on increasing capacity. The research participants indicated that the TFR objective to move freight back to rail could be accomplished. This will lessen the burden and damage to South African roads and reduce traffic congestion and accidents caused by trucks on the roads. It will also increase employment opportunities and the country’s economic competitiveness while reducing transport costs. All these aspects will make a significant impact on the economy of the country. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Trade liberalization and resultantly globalization has led to the relative free flow of goods, services, capital and people. The transport system in South Africa must be highly reliable and rapid to contribute to economic development. The focus of this research study is on the Port/Rail Interface in the Port of Durban which critically assesses the transfer of goods particularly from rail transport to and from vessels within the port precinct. Some of the major constraints identified in the study related to poor infrastructure, operations and levels of services; lack of maintenance, availability of rolling stock, locomotives and cargo stacking space. Transnet's role is pivotal in providing efficient port and rail operations and is currently upgrading infrastructure, operations and capacity of the port and rail services. One of the main objectives of the study is to present recommendations to Transnet management that arise out of the shortcomings identified during the course of the research study. / Transport Economics / M. Comm.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The vibrations and noise “pollution” that rail vehicles produce have become of particular concern in recent years. More pressure is being placed on operators of trains and trams (especially those operating in urban environments) to reduce their impact on neighbouring infrastructure. This project investigated the infrastructure available for vibration and noise mitigation and generated material models for some of the materials used in these types of rail infrastructure. The most common type of rail infrastructure used in South Africa is ballasted sleepers. Rail pads are sometimes used to reduce the transmitted vibration of these sleepers; this study focused on the materials used in the manufacture of these pads. Since most of these materials can be described as resilient/viscoelastic, the study of literature regarding these materials is essential within the scope of this project. Models found in literature were adapted by the addition of a non-linear stiffness element to account for the material behaviour at higher preloads. Three commercially available materials were tested and optimisation algorithms applied to determine their material coefficients (damping and stiffness), focusing on the preload and frequency dependency of these coefficients. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vibrasie en geraas “besoedeling” wat spoor voertuie genereer het in die in die afgelope paar jare van kritieke belang geword. Meer druk word op operateurs van treine en trems geplaas (veral die operateurs met operasies in stedelike gebiede) om hulle impak op aangrensende infrastruktuur te verminder. Hierdie projek is dus daarop gemik om te bepaal watter infrastuktuur beskikbaar is vir die vermindering van vibrasie en geraas asook die ontwikkeling van materiaal modellle vir sommige van die materiale wat gebruik word in hierdie tipes van spoor infrastruktuur. Die mees algemene spoor infrastruktuur wat gebruik word in Suid-Afrika is dwarslêers met ballas. Spoor blokke word soms gebruik om die oordrag van vibrasies te verminder vir hierdie dwarslêers en daarom het hierdie studie fokus geplaas op die materiale wat gebruik word in die vervaardiging van hierdie blokke. Aangesien die meeste van hierdie materiale beskryf kan word as veerkragtig/visco, is 'n literatuurstudie oor hierdie materiale noodsaaklik binne die bestek van hierdie projek. Modelle wat gevind is in die literatuur is aangepas deur 'n nie-lineêre styfheids element by te voeg wat voorsiening maak vir die materiale se gedrag by hoër voorspannings. Drie algemene kommersieël beskikbare materiale is getoets en optimeringsprossesse is toegepas om hulle materiaal koëffisiënte (demping en styfheid) te bepaal met die klem geplaas op die voorspanning en frekwensie afhanklikheid van hierdie koëffisiënte.