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The article discusses the issues of improving the energy efficiency of mainline locomotives with asynchronous traction motors by determining the characteristics of the traction drive using a device for measuring the magnetic field of the resulting magnetic field of the stator winding. It is known that the resulting magnetic field of the machine is formed by the joint action of the stator winding and the rotor winding. In this case, the rotor winding, according to the law of electromagnetic induction, acts with its magnetic flux on the primary magnetic flux of the stator, which is a reaction of a short-circuited rotor. The study of the magnetic field of asynchronous traction motors makes it possible, based on the data obtained, to improve the energy efficiency of electric rolling stock with asynchronous motors during their design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studies the relationship between commercial and technical operation of freight transport during the transportation of goods. The tasks of the services responsible for the transportation of goods, the technical condition and release of vehicles on the line, the main factors according to the plan of commercial and technical operation of rolling stock are considered. As well as paragraphs that determine the operation service and the engineering service work, respectively, through the coefficients of technical readiness and release. The coefficient of technical readiness, first of all, depends on the reliability of cars, as well as on the frequency and complexity of maintenance. The calculation proved that when switching from step-by-step to a unifed maintenance, the efficiency indicator increases by 21.5%, which undoubtedly affects the fleet's release coefficient. The expediency of the need to take into account the car reliability, as well as the interval of the inter-service mileage and the labor intensity of maintenance when updating the fleet is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Welded joints are the main reason that affects the increase in unsoundness, accounting for 36% of all causes of rail failures. The relevance of the proposed study arises from the need to consider high-frequency vibrations in the assembled rails and sleepers that originate during the movement of railway transport, when assessing the condition and predicting the operational reliability of the railway track roadbed. The development of the integrated approach to assess the condition and prediction of the railway track operational reliability with respect to high-frequency vibrations in the assembled rails and sleepers; the increase in the track tonnage and train speeds; the presence of technological heredity in welded joints caused by the thermal deformation welding cycle. The solution of this problem will allow to assess the residual life of the used continuously welded rails in order to reuse them under the changed operational conditions (the load change on the axle, the impact place change on the railway track due to the rolling stock passage, the decrease in the number of train-pairs per day, the decrease in the average speed of crews alongside this track section, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the research in the field of application of energy storage systems to in-crease throughput and carrying capacity on railway sections. The studies carried out by Russian and foreign researchers reveal various aspects of the application of energy storage systems in the energy supply systems of transport. In relation to the traction energy supply system the article shows the method of calculation of energy indicators, including those for the energy storage system, as well as algorithms of calculation and operation of the energy storage system at the sectioning station. The research demonstrates how the energy storage system influences the voltage level on the current collector of the electric rolling stock and the minimum inter-train intervals. The calculation results determine the threshold voltages and the charging characteristic, which makes it possible to maintain the energy storage system state of charge at the target level. The parameters of the energy storage system are defined. The reduction of the minimum inter-train interval is shown on the example of one of the double-track railway sections. It leads to the reduction of the payback period of the project on the introduction of energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the issues of improving the mechanical properties and improving the structure of steel grade 20GL intended for automatic couplers of freight cars by modifying the metal with a complex modifier PP-TM-14- FeVAlCa (Chemical powder wire for modification of liquid steel grade "PP-TM 14-FeVAlCa", chemical composition is V: 30-40%, Al: 10-15%, Ca: 15-20%, the rest is Fe) in a stopper ladle. Steel grade 20GL was chosen as the standard metal. It is shown that when deoxidizing steel with only aluminum, the product is aluminum oxide (〘Al〙_2 O_3), which slowly turns from metal into slag, therefore, it contaminates the metal with non-metallic inclusions higher. The reduction of contamination of metals with non-metallic inclusions occurs primarily due to the complex deoxidation of metals by aluminum, calcium and modified vanadium, which leads to the attraction of a large amount of liquid inclusions CaO· 〘Al〙_2 O_3 and 3CaO· 〘Al〙_2 O_3, which are quickly removed from the metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Servicing of all types of electric motors of locomotives is carried out in three stages: failure detection, repair and testing. The third part of these stages is researched in this scientific article. At the same time, the important aspects of the testing of the repaired electric motors were emphasized, and research results were obtained on further optimization of this process. Below you can see the results obtained in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the types of rolling stock, which is considered an important indicator in improving the quality of urban public transport services and ensuring safety. When choosing the right type of rolling stock, the flow of passengers and its distribution along the route is a decisive feature. Choosing the type of rolling stock according to its capacity in the inner-city routes increases the convenience of transportation and the quality of service to passengers, and reduces the cost of transportation. This article provides recommendations on the correct selection of the type of rolling stock, their correct placement along the routes, and the correct organization of movement intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, experimental and analytical studies of the energy consumption of rolling stocks in real operational conditions have been carried out. The Human factor, which significantly affects the consumption and recuperation of electrical energy, is minimized, as well as the influence of the railway profile. The measurements provide data on the energy consumption and on the total energy recuperated to the traction grid. The main indicators used in the analysis of the energy consumption have been calculated: relative operating energy consumption for acceleration and traction, relative energy recuperated to the traction grid during regenerative braking and relative net energy consumption. A comparative analysis of the energy indicators in terms of energy consumption with on and off air conditioning systems of the studied trains has been done. Digitization of the results has been made by two approaches – depending on the time range (peak, off-peak and night schedule) and the specifics of the route (the distance traveled). Recommendations have been done in various aspects in order to increase the efficiency of transport and optimize energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Moodle LMS distance learning system, thanks to its open source code and wide capabilities, is popular all over the world, including in Russia. This article discusses the application of the add-on "Moodle Learning Analytics" (Analytics and machine learning) in the Moodle LMS when teaching students specialty "Rolling stock", significantly expanding its capabilities, providing a rich range of analytical data. The main features of this add-on are shown. Specific recommendations for setting up and operating "Moodle Learning Analytics" are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers a method based on artificial neural network technology for calculating real-time passenger traffic values for each vehicle on the urban public transport route, which allows to automatically process a large amount of information coming from CCTV cameras installed in vehicle interiors. An intelligent system has been developed for calculating and analyzing the performance indicators of a motor transport enterprise, which automatically allows to collect, process and analyze information about passenger flows, calculate the passenger shift ratio on the route, draw up optimal schedules and bus schedules, adjust vehicle traffic intervals, determine the need for rolling stock in order to minimize the likelihood of a passenger being denied boarding, improving the quality of passenger service and reducing the operating costs of a motor transport company. Using the intelligent system, an analysis and comparison of the number of booked passengers on the routes of the Samara city district with the actual number of passengers carried on the route was carried out, with the results displayed in a graphical user interface. Dependences of the number of unaccounted passengers on the route on the amount of passenger traffic and the time of day are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modernization of the Soviet economy in the mid-1950s, the implementation of the General Plan for the Electrification of Railways in railway transport led to the reconstruction of the track facilities on the Sverdlovsk Railway. The article analyzes two main directions of modernization of track facilities: improving the design and increasing the strength of the track superstructure; introduction of new technologies for repair and maintenance of tracks based on the mechanization of production processes and widespread use of welding. The modernization of the track facilities made it possible to increase the carrying capacity of the railway, increased the mechanization of all types of track repair by 50%, and increased the speed and weight of trains. For the first time, the railway track ceased to limit the power of locomotive traction and the carrying capacity of the rolling stock. At the same time, the author identified factors that slowed down the modernization processes in the track industry: insufficient number of rails allocated to the railway; the absence in the USSR of an industrial base for the production of track machines with computerized control systems; the high intensity of train traffic did not allow for track repairs. The modernization of the track facilities has intensified the transportation process and made it safer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport and logistics system of the Russian Federation turned out to be one of the most vulnerable areas as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic was naturally reflected not only on economic entities - carriers, but also on vehicle manufacturers. In this work, a brief analysis of the strategy for the development of road transport and urban ground electric transport of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030, the structure of the rolling stock in general, and an analysis of the structure of passenger transport of the Russian Federation and the Rostov region in expanded form were carried out. A study was made of the total number of passenger transport, its distribution by categories, types of fuel used, and service life. Conclusions are made about the general trends of changes in the structure of bus transport and the prospects for its effective use. The development of measures for recovery after COVID-19 can affect the evolution in the transport sector and make the need for improved transport management and the development of innovative ideas in the production sector even more urgent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the problems of loading rolling stock from dispatch bunkes with grain cargo. A bunker with a controlled technological process of loading, storing and unloading agricultural materials is proposed, which can be used to store grain cargo and grinding products and ship them to rolling stock. Bunkers and silos are accumulating devices after grain loads have been removed from the fields. They are one of the most important links between consumers and producers. In order to ensure uninterrupted shipment to consumers, it is necessary that the bunker and silo meet the following conditions, mechanization and automation of all operations for the processing of grain materials, in the process of loading, storing and unloading, the qualitative and quantitative safety of the grain material is ensured, compliance with sanitary and hygienic requirements, protection is provided from birds, rodents and the environment, the geometry of bunkers and silos should not be disturbed, as well as timely detection of damage to their integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern trends in the design and growth of the railway network shall take into account the development of technology in both the design and the current maintenance of the railway track. The article examines the movement of rolling stock along the existing curves on one of the sections of the Sverdlovsk railway, where during operation there was a superposition of the transition curve in the plan on the vertical curve in the profile, which does not meet the requirements of the standard. Therefore, the "spatial" curve was formed. Its influence on the rolling stock is analyzed, the forces are studied both in the wheel-rail contact and in the space between the cars. The study provides arguments in favor of removing the restrictions on prohibition of designing combined transition and vertical curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure the safety of the movement of rolling stock, as well as to maintain the required speed limits, it is necessary to constantly monitor the state of the infrastructure and, first of all, monitor the condition of the track. This is especially important during the movement of high-speed rolling stock, when a track failure can lead to a violation of the comfort of passengers and premature wear of expensive elements of electric trains. The most promising solution for ensuring continuous monitoring of the state of the track is the introduction of track irregularities monitoring systems integrated into high-speed rolling stock, which circulates on the railway network. Such solutions may allow to more quickly identify track sections with unacceptable deviations from the norms. This article discusses mathematical models for controlling vertical irregularities of the track based on micromechanical acceleration sensors, as well as tilt angle sensors, which are installed on the axle boxes of the rolling stock. The output signals of these sensors can be processed using an on-board automatic system for prescriptive diagnostics of the technical condition of high-speed electric trains in real time, and thus the roughness values for the geolocation coordinates of the analyzed track section can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the issues of increasing the overhaul period and passed tonnage by modernizing the structure of the track superstructure. The main provisions for introducing structural changes to the current configuration of the track superstructure with intermediate rail fastenings of the lining type ZhBR-65PShR are provided. The concept of a new separate intermediate fastening with 4 screws and a reinforced terminal, a sleeper with an increased sole area, as well as using a sleeper pad for a more even distribution of pressure transmitted from the sleeper to the ballast layer, has been developed and presented. Two structures of the track superstructure are considered, a typical one with use of R65 type rails and a modernized one with use of R75 type rails. To assess the stress-strain state of the considered track structures, finite element models with a capacity of up to 4.6 million nodes were built on the basis of geometric models. The values of normal and equivalent stresses in the elements of the superstructure of the track, as well as on the main area of the subgrade, arising from the impact of the rolling stock under various vertical and lateral loads, are obtained. The comparative analysis carried out showed a significant reduction in mechanical stresses in the elements of the railway track when using the modernized reinforced structure of the track superstructure. Quantitative reduction of stress parameters makes it possible to increase the overhaul tonnage by reducing rail failures, as well as significantly reduce the cost of the current maintenance of intermediate rail fasteners and the ballast layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provided article presents the conditions and factors that have a direct impact on formation of ice and frost deposits on the overhead catenary wires, and also considers the prediction of the duration of the ice-hazardous period, which is considered in the method for calculating the number of vibrating pantographs, pneumatic drums on rolling stock and devices for mechanical cleaning of ice in contact network areas depending on the zoning of railway sections along the thickness of the ice wall. The possibility of using a classifier model based on a "decision-making tree" in the case of insufficient meteorological observation data is shown. The offered probabilistic model for predicting duration of an icy period makes it possible (with an acceptable error relative to the actual data) to predict the average number of days with formation of ice on the overhead catenary wires considering the several input variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the possibility of using cold recycling technology in the production of overhaul of the railway track. One of the most vulnerable parts is the main subgrade area, which is subjected to destructive loads during operation. Under the conditions of growing intensity of loads from the rolling stock, the strengthening of the main platform is especially important. Known methods for constructing protective layers from a mixture of crushed stone-gravel-sand soils, including those reinforced with geosynthetic materials (geotextile, geogrid, etc.). Today, technologies are developing that allow the use of secondary raw materials for the production of a new product. Such a product can be considered a reinforced main subgrade platform using cold recycling technology, which will reduce the volume of old ballast cut out and its subsequent disposal, as well as reduce the thickness of the ballast layer while maintaining the overall bearing capacity of the rail and sleeper grid. The technology will allow changing the bearing capacity of the subgrade by dosing the binder and increasing the strength characteristics of the layer through the use of specialized additives. The technique that allows implementing the proposed technology can be integrated into the technological process of overhaul of the railway track. And in the future, it is necessary to integrate all operations into one machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing of ballast layer bearing capacity is a widespread problem during the operation and maintenance of a railway track nowadays. It is known that with an increase of the passed tonnage, the ballast layer tends to become contaminated both by the products of its own crushing and by the external weeds which rapidly leads to the strength and operational characteristics degradation of the crushed stone ballast. In this study, an attempt was made to simulate the effect of cyclic load from rolling stock on the ballast layer and to determine the extent of wear of crushed stone ballast of category II in accordance with GOST 7392. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of experimental studies of the operation of traction electric motors of an AC electric train of the ED9T series in various operating conditions. The results of evaluation of the operating modes and technical condition of DC traction motors of the ED9T series electric train are provided. The problem of diagnosing the technical condition of traction electric motors of electric rolling stock of railways is proposed to be solved using mathematical processing of oscillograms of the current curve in the armature winding circuit, Fourier expansion and digital processing of harmonic current components in the MATLAB software package. The resulting logarithmic spectral components of the current and spectrograms are used to diagnose TED and build an on-board adaptive system for diagnosing a traction motor, as well as to predict failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of an experiment on measuring the characteristics of a radio signal at the input of mobile base stations of local Wi-Fi networks of an electric train on the railway are presented. The analysis of the results of the experiment carried out in the laboratory of MaximaTelecom JSC using Channel Emulator CH01 (RadioGigabit) device, together with the base stations Fruidmesh 4800. The analysis of the qualitative characteristics of signals at the entrance of the train base stations in tunnels and in open areas is given. Based on the obtained graphs, it is concluded that it is necessary to study the effect of the handover on the decrease in the input signal level, an increase in the probability of error (BER), as well as the number of retransmissions and a decrease in the channel speed. Significant fluctuations of the channel velocity in open areas due to the phenomenon of multipath propagation of radio waves are noted. All these factors create time delays for transmission of information and negatively affect the efficiency of train traffic management. The methods of reducing duration of the handover and reducing the influence of multipath are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of improving the quality of the current collection process becomes particularly relevant at the high speeds of rolling stock movement. First of all, the quality of current collection is related to the interaction of the pantograph current collector with the contact wire. From the point of view of mechanics this is the process of the interaction of two oscillatory systems with a randomly varying degree of interaction. The analytical consideration of the dynamics of such interaction in the best case (if it is feasible at all) can only lead to probabilistic estimates of quantities interesting from the practical point of view. It was the motivating reason to develop some classes of the models of the reaction of the contact wire to the static and dynamic effects of the pantograph. We found the natural oscillation frequencies of the catenary and their corresponding eigen functions taking into account the structural elements providing an equilasticity of the catenary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper shows that the main structure of the regional system for ensuring the operability of city buses can be centralized specialized production (CSP), specialized in specific types of maintenance and repair (M&R) of rolling stock. When considering this structure, the concept and principles of a node airport (hub) were applied, where the system is conventionally represented as a wheel with "spokes" (connections with specific consumers of material and labor resources) and a "hub" (node points). The conceptual scheme of centralization according to the "hub" principle can be extended by using specialization and cooperation of production. The centralization block allows to improve the production and technical base (PTB) of the service, increase its load, and improve the quality of service. The specialization of production contributes to an increase in the quality of work due to a narrower, but higher qualification of repairmen. Cooperation expands the possibilities of using third-party PTB without special capital expenditures. The paper analyzes the option of cooperation between the CSP for the maintenance and repair of city buses with the subdivisions of the production and technical base of the Russian Railways. An assessment of the base from the point of view of the capabilities of technological equipment, its employment and needs is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to development of methods for measuring the parameters of train movement based on the scattering signal from the distributed optical sensor located along the railway track. The accuracy of identifying the area of vibration impact on the distributed sensor depends on the applied methods of reflectometer signal processing. The paper offers to determine the location and length of the moving rolling stock by the characteristic inflection points of the reflectometer moving average signal function. Measuring the speed of the train is important for the tasks of increasing the throughput of the railway line and ensuring the minimum interval for passing trains. The article offers to arrange the continuous measurement of the speed of the object of vibration exposure based on the analysis of the correlation function of the reflectometer signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An overview of articles describing and summarizing methods, means, methods and results of measurements of external smooth surfaces in laboratory studies of moving chassis is given. The theoretical foundations of metrology, regulatory and legal bases, physical description of the eddy current method of non-destructive testing are also considered, on the basis of which a course of lectures, practical and laboratory work on conducting eddy current control of an arbitrary surface of railway rolling stock is developed, as the most commonly used for the study of an arbitrary surface of a car fleet for the specialty "Rolling stock of railways". Diagnostic work was carried out using manual modifications of flaw detectors of the VD-113, VD-113.5, VD-211.5, VD-211.7, VD-12NF brand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need to improve the efficiency of freight cars operation by introducing modern technologies in the maintenance process. To improve the quality of technical inspection of rolling stock at the maintenance point, it is offered to introduce a robotic complex capable of autonomously conducting technical inspection and diagnostics of rolling stock. Structurally, the robotic complex includes: chassis; manipulator; automation, control and data transmission system; diagnostic equipment; power unit. The possibility of using various diagnostic tools, vision systems, non-contact scanning sensors is considered. The functions of the complex are to pass through the inspection positions, identify malfunctions, accumulate information about the technical condition of the car with the transfer of information to the fleet operator or maintenance point (PTO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technology of magnetic-pulse pressing of tips on stranded wires and the results of numerical simulation of the process are described. An analysis of the influence of the intensity of force loading on the process of deformation of the shell has been carried out. Rational parameters of magnetic-pulse loading have been determined to ensure a high connection density. Due to the large axial inertial forces during magnetic-pulse pressing of the clamps, the extrusion of the wire and sleeve materials from the connection zone is reduced. In contrast to mechanical pressing of clamps, under optimal conditions of magnetic-pulse assembly of connections, the cross section of the wire in the clamp practically does not change. The high filling density of the section in the connection ensures high tightness of the connection and prevents oxidation of the contacting surfaces of the tip and wire cores. This minimizes the increase in transient electrical resistance in the connection of the wire and the tip during operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, based on the developed mathematical 3D model of the interaction between the rolling stock current collector and catenary, the current collection quality was assessed during the operation of high-speed rolling stock at speeds up to 400 km/h, considering the influence of natural and technical factors on it, such as the speed of the rolling stock, the vibrations of the roof of the electric locomotive, the installation height of the current collector above the roof of the electric locomotive, the wear of the current collector plates of the current collector, the temperature of the contact suspension and the environment, the wind across the track, ice. The mathematical model was developed taking into account the actual geometric and mechanical characteristics of the current collector and contact suspension. As a result of the study, recommendations were offered on the permissible limits of the operation of the rolling stock in terms of the quality of the current collection, the ranking of the considered technical and climatic factors according to the degree of influence on the quality of the current collection was made, and the restrictions on the speed of movement under their influence were indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work is devoted to the review of the possibility of the use of aluminum matrix composites in the parts of electric rolling stock current collectors. The possibility of using composite materials in the parts and the units of current collectors operating in conditions of high current loads and at high speed is analyzed. The static analysis using a finite element method in SolidWorks Simulation is performed. The strength performance of the parts of the conventional pantograph head suspension and composite pantograph head suspension is compared. The multibody modeling using SolidWorks Motion has been performed to analyze the dynamic characteristics of the composite head suspension with an aluminum matrix and its effort on the dynamic characteristics of the pantograph. The obtained results evidence an improvement of the dynamic characteristics of the composite head suspension and its positive effect on the dynamic characteristics of the pantograph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issues of violations in operation of the technical means of electric trains are considered, the most unreliable components and parts are identified, which to a large extent negatively affect the operation of the multiple unit rolling stock as a whole. The main causes of premature failures of batteries have been established, as one of the most unreliable devices on electric trains. The design, the principle of operation of the storage battery, its functions and the causes of premature failure are given. As a method for improving the reliability of batteries, the authors offer the use of the device that can improve the reliability of this node by eliminating the main causes of failures, the diagram and principle of operation are explained, and the features of the offered unit are revealed. Particular attention is paid to the adjustment characteristics of the offered device, its main functions and advantages in its use are revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern technical means make it possible to reduce the risks associated with the dangerous approach and derailment of the rolling stock. Safety is provided by warning systems and exit control devices. When developing devices for monitoring the derailment of rolling stock, much attention is paid to the methods and attachment points of load-bearing platforms for placing control sensors. The attachment point is used to align and secure the platform when it is installed on the rail track. The article discusses all the methods and attachment points of the load-bearing platforms to a rail and sleeper grid: fastening to sleepers, to rails, to embedded bars. It has been established that there is no single technical solution that does not have significant drawbacks. From a comparison of the attachment points of the load-bearing platform to the sleepers, it follows that the best technical solution is the attachment point of the platform to two sleepers of the rail grid at the same time. When attaching the load-bearing to the rails, the use of the attachment point with a shock absorber is preferable to the use of rigid attachments to prevent the problem of false operation. The most promising technical solution is the attachment point of the platform to the embedded bars. The purpose of the study is to develop recommendations for creating a reliable attachment point for the load-bearing platform of the derailment control device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the existing maintenance system on the condition of railway freight cars, being part of the transportation process, was assessed. The relevancy to change of approaches of railcars maintenance and an update of the regulatory documents containing the requirements for railway rolling stock throughout the life cycle was discovered. The negative consequences of the railway car complex reorganization were considered. The current condition of the railway freight cars rolling stock, which constitutes the transportation process, was analyzed. The risks of uncoupling of empty and loaded railway freight cars due to fault conditions depending on the railway type were assessed. The removal from operation of railcars according minor components was analyzed. The main conditions for the unchecked advance of the railway car traffic volume under the existing scheme of warranty section for the train maintenance were determined. It was proposed to minimize the losses of transportation market participants from emergency repairs of railway freight cars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the analyses of the present approaches of diagnosing the resource of freight cars side frames: calculating-experimental basing on the calculation of durability conducting fatigue strength and endurance tests. The methods of both approaches let diagnose the operating time of side frames, study the changes of their exploitation characteristics, determine the main parameters of parts durability. Both, side frames resource tests and bench tests of their fatigue strength are wide researches and further processing of the results on the existing methods has a range of conditional assumptions. It is determined that both approaches are limited and do not allow to fully take into account an accidental nature of the number of exploitation characteristics. The parameter of the basic number of loading cycles must be calculated for every single part basing on exploitation data. It is offered to modernize the methods of the resource diagnosis using a probabilistic calculation system with the use of a complex approach including not only the calculating-experimental base but also modeling taking into account a random distribution of exploitation factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the study, it can be concluded that the use of porous cooling in the form of separate inserts into the finned ventilation apparatus will be an additional source of heat removal from heated surfaces. The use of porous inserts reduces the thermal boundary layer of the air flow of the brake disc ventilation ducts. This is ensured by an additional change of air masses in the boundary layer rather than using a solid impermeable rib of the ventilation apparatus. After theoretical studies of the parameters of porous cooling, mathematical modeling of the parameters of influence on the efficiency of porous cooling and air flow rate when passing through the porous inserts was carried out. With an increase in the length of the porous insert, the efficiency of porous cooling and the flow rate of the air flow through the porous insert decreased. The intensity of the decrease was determined by the flow regime of the air flow in the thermal boundary layer and the order of the value of the air flow rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study substantiates the key role of railway transport in ensuring sustainable growth of the transport system and encouraging the processes of Ukraine's economic revival. The current state and development trends of domestic railway transport have been analysed and allowed defining its crisis situation and limited investment and innovation potential for encouraging progressive changes in the railway industry. The main provisions and features of the formation and implementation of investment and innovation policy in railway transport are revealed. A method for assessing the priority of implementation of investment and innovation projects in railway transport has been proposed. There has been outlined an example of the application peculiarities of the method of determining the price, which will provide a realistic assessment of the investment opportunities of railway transport for the purchase of a certain type of rolling stock and ground the management position on the choice of its manufacturer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of evacuation as part of fire safety management, is mandatory in railway transport. Thus, in any safety assessment of a railway transport, the evacuation of people to a safe refuge in case of fire must be ensured within a short time. For this assessment, fire drills are undertaken. However, conducting fire drills necessitates a certain amount of time and cost. Furthermore, fire drills may not be realistic in the worst-case scenario. For these reasons, Evacuation modelling technology can be a very useful tool for emergency evacuation planning which allows realizing a lot of different simulations and which is less expensive than real scale test. In this paper, the Moroccan atlas train, is used as case study and the selected model for simulations is Pyrosim. Five scenarios were created to better analyze the impact of various incoming data (modification of the architecture, the localization of the fire and the running time) on passenger evacuation performances. Simulation runs were executed and evacuation time was determined. In the simulations, evacuation time (from ignition to the moment when the coach is empty) of 32 passengers from a train to a platform was average 128s. Between stations, the simulations of 32 escaping passengers gave an average RSET of 311s. This study provides a further understanding of passengers rolling stock evacuation by evaluating the factors that affect evacuation time and demonstrate that numerical simulations of evacuation can be used to substitute the full-scale test required by regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a theoretical justification for the development of a test bench for dynamic durability tests of locomotive bogie frames, a theoretical justification for dynamic loading modes in order to bring the test conditions closer to real ones. In connection with the mass failure of electric rolling stock for JSC "Uzbekiston temir yullari" it is necessary to develop a new bench for testing the dynamic strength of bogie frames for locomotives with electric power transmission to wheelsets, which can be used to conduct bench endurance tests of bogie frames for locomotives on dynamic strength in order to extend the service life for factory repairs at locomotive repair plants. The proposed design of the stand for dynamic testing of electric locomotive bogie frames has a scientific novelty, which is protected by the Patent of the Republic of Uzbekistan for invention No. IAP 06795 [1] and has no analogues in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors have developed a fundamentally new design of a torsion-type hydraulic vibration damper for electric rolling stock, protected by the Patent of the Republic of Uzbekistan for invention No. IAP 07118) [1]). A technical result in the form of increasing the service life by 2-3 times will be obtained, achieving stability of operating parameters during exploitation, increasing the reliability and damping capacity of the damper as a whole, damping both low-frequency and high-frequency shock loads, which is especially important with increased speeds of railway vehicles. The article presents a generalized dynamic model of the design of a torsion-type hydraulic vibration damper, taking into account viscous damping at increased speeds of electric rolling stock. Numerical studies were conducted in the MathCad 19 programming environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A company has to address its position within its industry. It is crucial to know and to recognize what the competitors did and which strategy works best to win the market share. Therefore tailoring a competitive strategy is vital; hence it has to be tailored specifically for each product and market condition. Thus making it more critical for developing industry in ASEAN, the purpose of this paper is to recognize a competitive strategy for a developing rolling stock manufacturer in South East Asia. In creating a competitive strategy, we propose a game theory approach. An industry analysis among rivals must be done first using the Hirschman Herfindahl Index (HHI) for a specific product, Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU). Based on the HHI calculation, the DMU market rivalry often falls into a Dominant Firm category. This finding is interesting because there are a few number of dominant players in the same strategic market. Once the rivalry within the industry is known, using historical data gathered between dominant players, what strategy they execute, and seeing the differences they make on how much payoff gained utilizing the strategy; a game matrix is then deployed between players in the market. The result shows that the Indonesian Railway Industry has successfully increased its market share by reducing costs and shortening delivery time. Though it seems general, an interesting finding shows that it still has room to opt for the strategy to increase the price and lengthen the delivery time by focusing on quality and still win the market share. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of high-speed railways allows to solve a number of problems, reducing the required time in the movement of goods and cargo, improving the quality and safety of the transportation process, and reducing the level of used resources. The development and implementation of artificial intelligence led to the development of high-speed traffic on the railway network of the Russian Federation. The article considers the concepts of "intelligence" and "artificial intelligence", highlighting their main features. The structure of the basic level of the field of artificial intelligence and the block diagram of technologies are presented. The trends in the development of the railway complex in the field of artificial intelligence are highlighted. The analysis of artificial intelligence systems used at the railway complex has been carried out. The use of the digital railway equipment in Europe has been excluded. The structural functionality of high-speed railway systems in the future, for which artificial intelligence will be of key importance, is also presented. While performing a comprehensive analysis of artificial intelligence systems in railway transport, it was concluded that the use of artificial intelligence makes it possible to automate the solving of certain problems, to predict and monitor the operational features of a rolling stock, reduces the costs of the transportation process, optimizes the movement of traffic flows and passenger traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The requirements of stepping gap in railway stations are defined in Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT) and traced into different Rail Transport Operator (RTO) standards and specification. It is also included in AS 38561.1:2021 clause 5.1 in which any opening between movable platforms should be limited to 40 mm wide and 12 mm vertically. This requirement may create a challenge for the existing stations, where the track alignment is not perfectly straight (including the straight distance of minimum 20 m beyond the platform ends). However, the So Far as Is Reasonably Practicable (SFAIRP) framework under Rail Safety National Law (RSNL) mandates all designs of renewal, construction or maintenance works to provide a safe solution in compliance with the RTO's Safety Management System (SMS). The intent of this paper is to provide a methodology to demonstrate a SFAIRP approach to platform gap mitigation in different platform and track arrangements and elaborate on the justifications from a technical perspective. This involves train quasi-static clearance analysis considering the impact of curve and cant and rolling stock quasi-dynamic behaviour on the approaches of the platform when a noncompliant curve abuts the platform edges. The construction constraints of platform coping, track alignment and track form in the context of the platform gap is also investigated. This paper also provides a pre-text on the first principles of the requirements, the competing risks (train strikes) and methods available to raise the platform. The conclusion is a suggested approach in different platform/track arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Victorian Government is investing in a large pipeline of new rolling stock to improve services and replace ageing trains. As new rolling stock enters the network, it is critical that older units are safely and efficiently decommissioned and removed from the network to free up stabling capacity for the new vehicles. Since 2021 the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) has been working through retirement of ageing Comeng trains that were originally manufactured between 1982 and 1989. The Comeng trains have been the backbone of our metropolitan fleet for over 30 years, but it is now time to make way for new vehicles including the High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) and upcoming X'Trapolis 2.0 trains. The retirement process for the Comeng train fleet consists of two parts - decommissioning and disposal. Decommissioning is a reversable process of removing the unit from service, while disposal is an irreversible process that results in the unit being unable to be returned to its original state. Disposing the retired Comeng train fleet is freeing up storage and stabling capacity on the metropolitan network. This paper will outline the Comeng disposal project scope, objectives and potential challenges including environmental considerations and responsibilities, industry engagement, and the various technical challenges associated with disposing of large rolling stock assets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualification of a rolling stock design involves a number of tests that ensure safe and acceptable performance under a range of conditions. However, the test conditions prescribed in the standards may not necessarily reflect the condition of the network as there is often misalignment between the rolling stock and track maintenance standards. Aligning the requirements of vehicle qualification test conditions to the track maintenance standards is critical to ensure that the performance of the rolling stock on the network is acceptable. This challenge is pertinent for rolling stock qualified as per European/UIC standards. For example, UIC 518 provides guidelines for the assessment of rolling stock performance in relation to safety, track fatigue and ride quality. It defines test conditions as a combination of inertial vertical and lateral faults. However, track geometry, particularly in Australia, is typically managed with respect to chordal fault amplitude or a track condition index (TCI), which is a statistical combination of various geometry parameters. This paper explores semi-analytical means to align the requirements of rolling stock qualification conditions to the track maintenance requirement. To the best of the authors' knowledge the methodology described in this paper is a first of its' kind. The paper also described the limitations of the proposed methodology and some pragmatic considerations in implementing the technique described in this paper. An application of this method is demonstrated using track geometry data from the Sydney Trains network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The body structures of most modern Australian freight rolling stock were designed to the 1992 ROAAAR standard. The introduction of AS 7520.2 in 2012 constituted a revolutionary change in approach to established structural design practice. Prior to AS 7520.2 there had been a steady evolution of freight rolling stock structural design standards used in Australia. This evolution was based on extensive service experience and the results were invariably successful when standards were properly applied. The significant change in direction indicates an imperative for a quantitative comparison of AS 7520.2 with antecedents to fully appreciate the relative change in mitigation of the risks of structural failure. The inevitable complexity of rolling stock structural design standards eliminates any possibility of a simplistic comparison along the lines of "A is more or less conservative than B, by a factor of C". Here, a practical quantitative method of comparison is shown, using a contemporary style of coal wagon as an example. It is concluded that the degree to which structural failure risks are mitigated by AS 7520.2 is significantly less than for ROA-AAR. It is further concluded that application of AS 7520.2 does not result in a uniform rating of structural capacity, a fundamental requirement for any such standard. Caution should, accordingly, be exercised when relying on AS 7520.2. Recommendations for further development to surmount material deficiencies identified in AS 7520.2 are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Train driving strategies are dictated by the need for meeting timetabling and energy-efficient control. The magnitude and duration of traction and braking efforts can vary significantly and is strongly dependent on heavy haul train operating parameters. There is a lack of tools to estimate rail wear for a complete network, and considering full train operation, including the contribution of different types of rollingstock. Rail wear simulation studies require high-fidelity multibody models which make the simulation work computationally expensive, and the obtained results often just describe a particular individual vehicletrack interaction case. With the advent of high-performance computing facilities, a full train co-simulation that consists of multiple rail vehicle physics-based (multibody) models can now be performed using parallel simulations in a single run. In this paper, a digital twin method has been proposed to investigate the impact of train driving strategies on rail wear. The method has been demonstrated with a case study. The limitations of the proposed method have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an approach to determining the optimal positioning of the rail track alignment within a tunnel for an underground rail transit system. One of the main challenges with rail tunnel design is effectively spaceproofing for assets within the tunnel to meet the functional and operational requirements of a railway. Mott MacDonald's technical experts have developed a methodology that assesses the spatial requirements for various systems, utilising an iterative design process, to provide a functional and efficient solution. This approach ensures sufficient space for the track infrastructure and rolling stock vehicle dynamics and kinematic envelope clearances, whilst considering provision of tunnel services and other tunnel assets. A benefit of carrying out this process early on in the design process includes definition of key project technical parameters, including tunnel size, which may impact project capital costs. Further, this paper discusses the development of automating the process to adequately position the track alignment within the tunnel, which enables efficiencies in the design modelling of the 3D rail tunnel and can potentially add value to future construction and maintenance. The overarching principles and key considerations discussed in this paper can be applied to a broad range of projects and facilitate a deeper understanding of the spatial relationship between the rail tunnel alignment and track alignment, which are intrinsically linked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers Australia's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and the contribution of the rail industry, and in particular diesel passenger rolling stock, to achieving the targets. In reviewing alternate fuel technologies that could be implemented to reduce emissions, it proposes key parameters that should be considered when evaluating options to lower or replace diesel propulsion with zero emission alternatives. Since 2018 Mott MacDonald has been involved with the zero-emission multiple unit ('ZEMU') due to enter service in San Bernadino County, California in 2024. Lessons learnt from this experience are applicable to the Australian rail industry, including the factors that influenced the selection of alternate fuel technologies for that application. This paper discusses these lessons covering the importance of a well-established project objective to allow comparative assessment, consideration of industry acceptance of alternate technologies and cost implications. Infrastructure impacts, existing fleet conditions, maturity of technology, operations and maintenance impacts including range, and safety are also all explored as part of this review. The paper draws on the above lessons to propose a way forward for the Australian rail industry to consider potential options to lower emissions with the goal of progressing to zero emissions in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAM (Reliability, Availability and Maintainability) is a term used in the Systems Engineering and Asset Management field that addresses uncertainty in engineering design and its asset performance. The word "Reliability" is a common word used in daily conversation to describe how a product, equipment or services perform and, the trustworthiness its performance over a period, in each operating environment and condition. Availability - ability of an item to be in a state to perform a required function under given conditions at a given instant of time or over a given time interval, assuming that the required external resources are provided (EN50126). Maintainability - ability to be maintained in, or restored to, a state to perform as required, under given conditions of use and maintenance. Availability is essentially a product of Reliability and Maintainability. It is found that a railway specific RAM database populated with RAM information extracted from field data is not readily available. Rail operators and project teams are required to develop their own models to understand their asset performance and to establish a baseline for forecasting and doing 'what-if' options analysis. This paper presents a case using Reliability Block Diagram to model and forecast the RAM performance of rolling stock and the application of such a model to decision making in maintenance strategy optimisations, design targets and provision of spares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has grown in popularity over recent years, driven largely by a boom in hobbyist applications. Until recently, the application of AM technology to produce high end components or assemblies in industry sectors such as rolling stock has been limited to niche and experimental fields, such as rapid prototyping. While prototyping remains as a key use of AM, there is a growing desire within the industry to expand the usage to AM production of final use components. This paper will outline some of the recent novel applications of AM in the railway industry. The paper outlines how recent developments could clear a path forward past key roadblocks to wider adoption within the railway industry. Finally, the paper uses an example from the Author's experience to examine the production level of application potential for Additive Manufacturing in an Australian railway context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]