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Track Access Charges (TAC) represents the fees paid by operators to utilize railway infrastructure, encompassing tracks, stations, and related facilities. These charges play a crucial role in cost recovery for maintaining, expanding, and operating the railway network, while ensuring fair access for multiple operators. TAC regulations typically consider parameters, such as train mass, distance traveled, time of operation, and service type to determine charges, aiming to establish a transparent and competitive system that optimizes network use and to foster sustainability and growth. The paper undertakes a comprehensive comparative analysis of TAC across 18 European countries, delving into both qualitative and quantitative aspects of TAC regulations. It investigates on the intricate relationships between regulations and key network and capacity features. The analysis encompasses both quantitative metrics and qualitative evaluations, focusing on capacity management and network use. Furthermore, the paper provides recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to enhance the efficacy of TAC regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Track circuits (TC) are special electrical circuits composed in part of the rails of the tracks, Electrical signals are circulated in them by which it is possible to determine the status of free (no rolling stock) or occupied (rolling stock presence) within a controlled portion of track can be determined. They therefore represent a fundamental element of the Control command and Signalling Sub-System (CCS) whose operation has a significant impact on the safety and regularity of railway operations. In this paper, the problem of proper TC modeling and simulation setup for the purposes of the issues of interest to be analyzed will be addressed. The discussion will analyze several case studies of interest for Class B systems referring further ones to subsequent publications. The method presented here, excluding the electrical modeling part of the track, consists of a generic method developed by the author during his experience on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to UNI 11337, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the process of creating and managing information about a building throughout its life cycle. One of the fundamental results of this process is a multidimensional model, i.e. one that goes beyond the three-dimensional description and offers a complete perspective of the built work. This model is developed based on information that is collaboratively entered and updated during the main phases of the project. In this paper, we present the BIM model of the Gradec-Sveti Ivan Žabno railway line developed within the international cooperation activities between the Universities of Naples Federico II and Zagreb to highlight the advantages and limitations of the methodology applied to a real railway project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undergrounds and urban railways have become significant places from a cultural point of view, real distinctive signs of cities and their development. In this context, the Neapolitan capital (Italy) was among the first cities in Europe to understand the importance of building stations with high artistic and architectural standards. The desire to create an impressive infrastructural and architectural project, the strong innovative drive and the vision at the basis of the metro city project have been adopted, over the years, also in the planning of new underground lines such as Line 6. The purpose of this paper was to continue the narration of this visionary design idea by describing one of the most representative new station "Chiaia" of the Line 6, designed by the British artist Peter GREENAWAY. Furthermore, in order to quantify the impact of the Art Metro on the city and its citizens, a mobility survey was also carried out aimed at quantifying the number and type of visitors and tourists of the works of art widely exhibited in the overall Neapolitan metropolitan system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]