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Germany's third longest rail tunnel in operation / Deutschlands drittlängster Bahntunnel in Betrieb Current status of design on the Rastatt Tunnel / Aktueller Planungsstand bei Tunnel Rastatt DB awards the Widderstall Tunnel (NBS) / DB vergibt Tunnel Widderstall (NBS) A14: Half-time for the refurbishment of the Pfänder Tunnel / A14: Halbzeit bei der Sanierung des Pfändertunnels Reißeck II: Half time at the largest power station site in Austria / Reißeck II: Halbzeit auf Österreichs größter Kraftwerksbaustelle Construction contract awarded for the Stadtbahn Dortmund / Bauauftrag für Stadtbahn Dortmund vergeben Strabag wins a contract for part of the Westbahn line / Strabag erhält Auftrag für Teilstück der Westbahn Development of resource-efficient and advanced underground technologies - Montan Universität Loeben coordinates the EU-Project DRAGON Hochtief to build hydropower station in South America / Hochtief baut Wasserkraftwerk in Südamerika 3rd International Conference on Computational Methods in Tunnelling and Subsurface Engineering (EURO:TUN 2013) / 3rd International Conference on Computational Methods in Tunnelling and Subsurface Engineering (EURO:TUN 2013) Herrenknecht takes over Techni-Métal Systemes / Herrenknecht übernimmt Techni-Métal Systemes Call for papers - Themes for the next issues of Geomechanics and Tunnelling / Themen für die nächsten Ausgaben der 'Geomechanics and Tunnelling' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The configuration of service facilities, such as ticket vending machines, staffed ticket booths, automatic fare gates, and escalators, is an important issue for the plan and design of rail transit stations. Reasonable configuration of service facilities is based on a good understanding of the passenger traffic characteristics of such service facilities, which are affected by passenger characteristics, station types, and facility performance. To study the passenger traffic characteristics of service facilities, five stations are selected in Shanghai, and their passenger traffic data are collected and analyzed. In this study, the results indicate that service-time frequencies of ticket vending machines and staffed ticket booths follow Weibull distribution and exponential distribution, respectively, and that the headway of passengers passing the automatic fare gate under ideal conditions follows normal distribution. According to the service time and headway distributions of ticket-selling facilities and automatic fare gates, the derived capacities of ticket vending machines, staffed ticket booths, and automatic fare gates are 137, 186, 253, 368, and , respectively. In addition, theoretical analysis and field survey of escalators show that escalator capacity is between 4,700 and . It is found that the capacities of ticket-selling facilities and escalators in this study are far lower than those in China's design codes. The capacity of automatic fare gates in this study is a little lower than that in China's code; however, it is a little greater than that from the corresponding U.S. capacity manual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 30,000 miles of railroad and 4,000 miles of canals were constructed in the United States between 1815 and 1861. However, the lack of data has prevented the study of this “transportation revolution” for most cities. This article thus enables a closer study of antebellum travel improvements by constructing a hub-and-spoke network that is capable of estimating the cost of passenger travel from New York City and Philadelphia to any U.S. city in 1836, 1850, 1856, 1859, and 1867. The semi-parametric approach provides an accurate cost estimate by using available historical information to determine the travel cost to all other cities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Short-term passenger flow forecasting is a vital component of transportation systems. The forecasting results can be applied to support transportation system management such as operation planning, and station passenger crowd regulation planning. In this paper, a hybrid EMD–BPN forecasting approach which combines empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and back-propagation neural networks (BPN) is developed to predict the short-term passenger flow in metro systems. There are three stages in the EMD–BPN forecasting approach. The first stage (EMD Stage) decomposes the short-term passenger flow series data into a number of intrinsic mode function (IMF) components. The second stage (Component Identification Stage) identifies the meaningful IMFs as inputs for BPN. The third stage (BPN Stage) applies BPN to perform the passenger flow forecasting. The historical passenger flow data, the extracted EMD components and temporal factors (i.e., the day of the week, the time period of the day, and weekday or weekend) are taken as inputs in the third stage. The experimental results indicate that the proposed hybrid EMD–BPN approach performs well and stably in forecasting the short-term metro passenger flow. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Among the most commonly used methods of scheduling train stops are practical experience and various "one-step" optimal models. These methods face problems of direct transferability and computational complexity when considering a large-scale high- speed rail (HSR) network such as the one in China. This paper introduces a two-stage approach for train stop scheduling with a goal of efficiently organizing passenger traffic into a rational train stop pattern combination while retaining features of regularity, connectivity, and rapidity (RCR). Based on a three-level station classification definition, a mixed integer programming model and a train operating tactics descriptive model along with the computing algorithm are developed and presented for the two stages. A real- world numerical example is presented using the Chinese HSR network as the setting. The performance of the train stop schedule and the applicability of the proposed approach are evaluated from the perspective of maintaining RCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article develops a rapid response ridership forecast model, based on the combined use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), distance-decay functions and multiple regression models. The number of passengers boarding at each station in the Madrid Metro network is estimated as a function of the characteristics of the stations (type, number of lines, accessibility within the network, etc.) and of the areas they serve (population and employment characteristics, land-use mix, street density, presence of feeder modes, etc.). The paper considers the need to evaluate the distance threshold used (not the choice of a fixed distance threshold by assimilation from other studies), the distance calculation procedure (network distance versus straight-line distance) and, above all, the use of distance-decay weighted regression (so that the data from the bands nearer the stations have a greater weighting in the model than those farther away). Analyses carried out show that weighting the variables according to the distance-decay functions provides systematically better results. The choice of distance threshold also significantly improves outcomes. When an all-or-nothing function is used, the way the service area is calculated (straight-line or network distances) does not seem to have a decisive influence on the results. However, it seems to be more influential when distance-decay weighting is used. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The fragmented and ever more specialized nature of today’s railway systems makes it more and more complex to operate. An increasing number of actors are involved in the operation of a railway service. Infrastructure management is being separated from the operational aspect. Apart from the traditional state-owned train operators, open access and private operators start using the same infrastructure as well. Additionally, an increasing number of information systems, such as for real-time passenger information and entertainment need to exchange information. Therefore, Information & Communication Technologies have an increasingly vital role to play in the operation of the railways. However, as the use of stand-alone information systems improves the efficient operation of a single railway stakeholder, due to the complex fragmented nature, there is a clear need to integrate and correlate the available information. A high level of structured interoperability between information systems is required to correctly combine and manage this complex information. Several mechanisms exist to integrate information systems. The approach presented in this paper discusses the integration on data level. The main benefit of this approach is that it supports independent application development. It is after all undesirable and nearly impossible to centralise application development in world-wide fragmented and large systems, such as the railways. We will discuss a number of approaches towards data integration. Two main technologies are considered, namely Unified Modelling Language (UML) and ontologies. An ontology-based solution is compared with an UML-based approach. The advantages and disadvantages of both UML and ontology-based approaches are presented. The results are evaluated by means of a demonstrator developed as part of the InteGRail project (Intelligent Integration of Railway Systems), an FP6 EU research project. We believe that this demonstrator, the Network Statement Checker, is an ideal candidate to demonstrate the advantages of an ontology-based integrated information system. This tool allows the infrastructure operators to combine the network statements of different countries in different formats and to analyse them in a transparent way. The ontology-based approach shows clear advantages compared to the UML approach, by means of the formally defined model, but on the other hand the performance of the currently available tools is still to be improved. However, we believe that the augmented value of an ontology-based approach is also to be found in lower development costs because of its potential reuse in multiple applications, since their philosophy is to serve as a domain model instead of as a data model for a specific application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses improving sustainability in the U.S. through the expansion of the U.S. passenger rail service in urban areas. Topics include the role of transportation in the assessment of urban environmental impacts, the need for diversification of the U.S. transportation system, a historical overview of U.S. passenger rail traffic, and factors contributing to a successful passenger rail system and its subsequent benefits to society.

This paper presents a multiobjective generalized cost (GC) based passenger information system (PIS) design for multimodal transit system that integrates geographical information system (GIS) processing, network analysis, user interfacing, and database management. The GC approach for trip planning is especially important in the Indian scenario, where the various modes of transport are generally not harmonized, and the transfer time from one mode to another may be very large. It also imitates the natural tendency of public transport users to attach differential importance to various legs of a trip (walking, waiting, travel time, etc.) while planning for it. The proposed PIS gives answers to user queries like optimum path based on time, cost, distance, or generalized cost, and other related information for making a trip. It is implemented on a multimodal integrated transit network developed through past work for the city of Thane in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of stated-preference in a discrete choice experiments designed to examine the potential demand for a new type of passenger train between Tunja and Bogotá. The study investigates choice behaviour between three modes of transportation: bus, train and car. Each mode is represented in terms of cost, travel time and headway with a mixed logit model, which includes regularly for individuals. The model was used to experiment with different scenarios, finding the modal split for each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Accurate forecasts are the base for correct decisions in revenue management. This paper addresses two novel neural network structures for short-term railway passenger demand forecasting. An idea to render information at suitable places rather than mixing all available information at the beginning in neural network operations is proposed. The first proposed network structure is multiple temporal units neural network (MTUNN), which deals with distinctive input information via designated connections in the network. The second proposed network structure is parallel ensemble neural network (PENN), which deals with different input information in several individual models. The outputs of the individual models are then integrated to obtain final forecasts. Conventional multi-layer perceptron (MLP) is also constructed for comparison purposes. The results show that both MTUNN and PENN outperform conventional MLP in the study. On average, MTUNN can obtain 8.1% improvement of MSE and 4.4% improvement of MAPE in comparison with MLP. PENN can achieve 10.5% improvement of MSE and 3.3% improvement of MAPE in comparison with MLP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Whilst mobile work is increasingly prevalent, there is little detailed study of this phenomenon in the specific context of a train. Thus, the current study focuses on how mobile work is conducted onboard trains, as a way of exploring general issues relating to mobility. Through survey and interview data, several constraints to mobile work on the train were revealed. These include the lack of reliable communications network, access to co-workers and lack of privacy which together restrict the types of communicative tasks people carry out. We found that the majority of tasks conducted were socially independent in nature (without the need for communication with others). However, people made some technological task and contextual adaptations which allowed them to work around these limitations to conduct some socially interdependent work (with the need for communication with others). We explain why and how specific technologies/media are used (and adapted) in this setting and explore the implications this has for technology design and our thinking about mobile work. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

On classical passenger trains, the secondary suspension is commonly ensured by airsprings which are integrated in a pneumatic circuit. In addition to the pneumatic bellows, the circuit contains various pneumatic components such as tanks, pipes, orifices, levelling valves, etc., the purpose of the latter being to maintain a constant height between the carbody and the bogie. These elements can be connected in several ways leading to many existing suspension topologies. This paper deals with the multidisciplinary modelling of a vehicle equipped with such a suspension taking into account both multibody and pneumatic aspects. First, it depicts in more detail the various elements of a pneumatic suspension. Then, many criteria that influence the suspension morphology are presented: the kind of bogie, the use of an auxiliary tank, the position of this tank relative to the bellows, the kind of levelling system, the use of an additional anti-roll bar, the use of an additional hydraulic damper, etc. The description of the complete pneumatic circuit implies the use of thermodynamic models which take into account the airflow through the pipes and the valves, the pressure in the bellows, etc. Several pipe models are presented, the choice depending on the length of the pipe: an algebraic model is sufficient for short pipes, while a differential model is needed to take into account the dynamics of longer pipes. The pneumatic model is then coupled with a SIMPACK multibody model in order to analyse the behaviour of the complete vehicle. Two-point and four-point configurations are compared for Δ Q/Q and curve entry tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the entry of Lithuania into the European Union, proper conditions for both Lithuanian and the EU inhabitants to comfortably travel by trains should be created. Lithuania should resume the direct communication by railroads with Poland. For that the passenger train route "Vilnius-Warsaw" should be opened; it would enable the national inhabitants to reach European countries by train and also the inhabitants of those countries to come by train to Lithuania. The article gives an analysis of perspective passenger flows on the route "Vilnius-Warsaw", presents results of the study on passenger transportation of competitive sphere on this route, investigates technical-economical aspects of the train's launch, analyses the marketing strategy, gives a survey of links of this train's launch with the "Rail Baltica" project, provides with a presentation of the SWOT analysis. The author proposes to include St. Petersburg into the "Rail Baltica" route -- this would increase flows of both -- passengers and cargoes. The article covers redistribution of the international passenger transportation market among different types of transport following the introduction of the "Rail Baltica" route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many factors that influence demand for rail travel, including rail and road travel time, ticket costs, fuel costs and income. This paper empirically examines the influence of per capita GDP and rail fares on intercity rail journeys using cointegration and error correction techniques. The price and income elasticity of demand for rail-passenger transport is estimated. The findings of this study are that rail passenger demand is elastic with price in the long term, having a value of 1.08, but it is inelastic with income in both the long and short run. The study recommends that reducing intercity rail fares could be one of the tools used to increase the demand for intercity rail passenger transport. That is, reducing the ticket price by 1% will increase the per capita number of journeys by intercity rail by slightly more than 1% in the long term. However, the authors point out that additional research is required to examine the impacts of other factors on railway demand, such as travel times, GDP and cross-price elasticities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the level of service offered by intercity rail in Ireland and analyses the importance of attributes in prioritising railway projects for investment. The study also quantifies the number of additional passengers who would use rail if ticket prices were subsidised. A stated preference study conducted in 2004 shows that current levels of satisfaction with the intercity rail service are low. The study shows that passengers are willing to pay higher ticket prices in order to improve service quality. The average values are: €13.6/h of saved journey time, €0.38 to reduce the gap between actual arrival time and scheduled arrival time by 1 min, and €0.16 per additional train to increase service frequency. The analysis finds that user benefits are the most important attributes in investment decision-making, followed by safety/accident benefits and total economic benefits of the project. The estimated values show that reducing the ticket price by 5% would increase the revenue by 0.12% under the Department of Transport forecast; similarly, the revenue would increase by 1.1% if the ticket price were decreased by 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that passenger rail serves two different functions in the U.S. market. Over long distances, Amtrak primarily serves the needs of the leisure traveler. For this market, a major incentive for selecting passenger rail is the onboard experience of traveling by rail. For shorter distances, passenger rail travelers choose from transportation alternatives in part due to the utility provided--comfort, speed, cost. Niche marketing is defined as the process of targeting sub-market segments that are distinguished from larger markets according to the need for a special combination of benefits. To be effective at niche marketing, current customers can be either over-served. For niche marketing to be an effective basis for strategy development, significant differences must exist within market segments. Additionally, each group must be able to be satisfied more effectively by focusing on the needs of each customer niche. The identification of such differences is a fundamental prerequisite to the development of a niche strategy. One of the major advantages of such a strategy is to utilize the competitor orientation of an organization by taking advantage of perceived weaknesses among competitors,

Indian Railways (IR) is the single largest organization that manages and operates a mammoth of transportation services in the World's largest democracy. IR services are operated through 7,137 stations, a route length of 66,030 km, and a total track of 117,996 km. The number of passengers carried every day is 23 million with passenger earnings of INR 42190 crores. Scale of operations translates to humungous everyday challenges. Quite understandably, customer dissatisfaction is prevalent, in spite of subsidized travel fares and multiple initiatives. In recent times, IR has become very active in the digital social media space to provide real‐time and dynamic service improvements. In this talk, we will be discussing the beginning of technology intervention in IR, managerial challenges in exploiting technology advancements, and the current status in managing a large‐scale public transport operations. We will also discuss about the insights, deployability in comparative segments, and the way forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]