Rescheduling trains by crossover tracks to promote service quality of urban rail transit under partial blockages.

This study focuses on the rescheduling problem with disruptions that cause partial blockages in the urban rail transit (URT), contributing to extending the relative train rescheduling studies. The alternative driving measure (ADM), which could be regarded as one train rerouting measure, is used to skip the blocked section, and a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is built based on it. Time-varying passenger flow as well as the turnaround process of rolling stocks is taken into consideration. To solve the model, a customized genetic algorithm is used to quickly generate high-quality solutions. Real-world data is studied and sensitivity analyses are taken to verify the feasibility and advantage of ADM. The results validate the proposed model and algorithm, as well as confirm that ADM shows significantly better performance than the practical operation measure in promoting passenger service quality of URT under partial blockage.

Collaborative optimization for train stop planning and train timetabling on high-speed railways based on passenger demand.

In recent years, with increasing passenger travel demand, high-speed railways have developed rapidly. The stop planning and timetabling problems are the core contents of high-speed railway transport planning and have important practical significance for improving efficiency of passenger travel and railway operation Dong et al. (2020). This study proposes a collaborative optimization approach that can be divided into two phases. In the first phase, a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is constructed to obtain a stop plan by minimizing the total passenger travel time. The constraints of passenger origin-destination (OD) demand, train capacity, and stop frequency are considered in the first phase. In the second phase, the train timetable is optimized after the stop plan is obtained. A multiobjective mixed-integer linear optimization model is formulated by minimizing the total train travel time and the deviation between the expected and actual departure times from the origin station for all trains. Multiple types of trains and more refined headways are considered in the timetabling model. Finally, the approach is applied to China's high-speed railway, and the GUROBI optimizer is used to solve the models in the above two stages. By analyzing the results, the total passenger travel time and train travel time decreased by 2.81% and 3.34% respectively. The proposed method generates a more efficient solution for the railway system.

Joint optimization of high-speed train timetables, speed levels and stop plans for increasing capacity based on a compressed multilayer space-time network.

With the steady increase in passenger volume of high-speed railways in China, some high-speed railway sections have faced a difficult situation. To provide more transport services, it is necessary to add as many trains as possible in a section to increase capacity. To solve this problem, a compressed multilayer space-time network model is constructed with the maximum number of trains that can be scheduled in the train timetable as the objective. The combination of the train stop plan and speed level is represented by the layer of network where the train is located, and constraints such as train selection, train safety, train overtake and cross-line trains are considered. A method based on timing-cycle iterative optimization is designed to decompose the original problem into multiple subproblems, and the solving order of the subproblems is determined by a heuristic greedy rule. Taking the Beijing-Jinan section of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway as an example, the maximum number of trains was increased by 12.5% compared with the timetable before optimization. The saturated timetables provide detailed schedules, which helps decision-makers better adjust the timetable to run more trains.

Modelling and impact analysis of interdependent characteristics on cascading overload failure of syncretic railway networks.

To study the performance and mutual influence of a syncretic railway network (SRN) that comprises high-speed railway, regional railway, and urban rail transit under the condition of traffic overload during peak hours, we discuss the interdependent characteristics on cascading overload failure of SRNs under the cooperative organization from the perspective of an interdependent network. However, most existing research on cascading failure in interdependent network ignores the inconsistency between the physical structure and transportation organization of the subnetwork in an actual network, in addition to the restrictions on the load redistribution strategy of stations and sections in the load-capacity model of the interdependent network; especially, the influence of transfer behavior on the load redistribution inter subnetwork. In this study, we investigate the robustness of an interdependent SRN under overload and risk propagation. We propose a partially interdependent network model of a multimode rail transit, develop a novel cascading overload failure model with tunable parameters of load redistribution inter subnetwork, and analyze interdependent characteristics, cascade failure process, and robustness of an SRN under multiscene conditions, i.e., different attack and load distribution strategies, via simulations. A case study of an SRN in the metropolitan area of Chengdu, China is presented; the results indicate that, when the reserve coefficient of the metro subnetwork is 0.4 and the overload coefficient of the regional railway subnetwork is greater than 1.2, the station reserve capacity and overload capacity of the SRN is appropriately improved. When passenger load increases to a certain range, the reserve and overload capacities of stations in the regional railway subnetwork do not considerably contribute to robustness. Thus, a surplus load distribution strategy is recommended to improve robustness. The results of this paper have considerable significance for the planning, structural optimization, and operation safety of SRNs.

Evaluation on the Use of Italian High-Speed Rail to Support Transportation Network for Transplantation Activities.

BACKGROUND: One of the main activities connected with transplantation is the rapid and timely transportation of patients, medical teams, and human organs from donation to transplantation centers under the compliance of national guidelines and principles of quality, performance, and safety. High-speed transportation on a railway network is becoming relevant both in terms of performance and extensiveness of the service. METHODS AND OBJECTIVES: Our study explores the feasibility of adopting a high-speed rail network for the transportation of those organs with large cold ischemia time and those less influenced by transportation-related perturbations (ie, temperature, speed, vibrations), assessing savings and relative performance improvement. In this study, only kidneys have been considered; the transplantation database has been integrated with the national high-speed railway network and timetables. A function is implemented that allocates to air transportations those records with 1 of the 2 ends situated on islands, remote regions, and abroad, while rail transportation is preferred where constraints on capacity and compliance with cold ischemia time are met. Road transportation is still feasible for those records involving 2 adjacent regions and for intraregional transportation. RESULTS: The opportunity of integrated road-rail transportation in place of air or all-road transportation allows users to lower generalized costs and reduce driven distance for personnel and vehicles allocated to a regional transplantation center's fleet and staff. Savings in fleet and staff usage can serve to improve the performances at the local level. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge and analysis of transportation alternatives for human organs with less stringent safety and preservation criteria allow a more efficient allocation of resources both at the local and national level-without compromising quality and reliability of the system.

Communication access on trains: a qualitative exploration of the perspectives of passengers with communication disabilities.

PURPOSE: The often-invisible access barriers to public transport encountered by people with communication disabilities, who have sensory, language or cognitive impairments have gained little attention. This study investigated the experiences of people with communication disabilities on a rail network in Victoria, Australia to identify the barriers they encountered. METHODS: Twenty-one passengers with communication disabilities participated in either an individual interview or a focus group. They talked about their experiences of train travel, factors that made travelling difficult and suggestions for making travelling easier. A six-phase approach to thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes. RESULTS: The difficulties identified in travelling fell into three themes: (a) variable accessibility of information, (b) negative impact of a large and complex service system, and (c) an uncertain culture of help seeking and giving. Only two passengers had ever complained but all identified ways to improve the service. They suggested, better staff training, more use of communication tools, mechanisms to enable passengers to seek help, and attention to making information easier to understand. CONCLUSIONS: For transport to be accessible to people with communication disabilities many different types of adjustment are required. Using multiple modes of communication with attention to understandability and consistent responses from public contact staff skilled to interact in multiple ways, may be the most flexible and effective means of responding to difficulties posed by the complex and unpredictable nature of train services. Implications for Rehabilitation People with communication disabilities are a diverse group which includes people with physical, sensory, speech, language, and cognitive impairments. Public transport services need to provide a range of communication adjustments to enable people with communication disabilities to travel successfully. Transport services must retain and refine accessible alternatives to online information and booking systems for people with cognitive impairments to avoid widening the digital divide. Frequent and unavoidable changes to train services mean that skilled public contact staff, access to information and a culture of help seeking and giving are particularly important in facilitating access for people with communication disabilities.

A study of the car-to-train assignment problem for rail express cargos in the scheduled and unscheduled train services network.

A freight train service network generally involves two categories of trains: unscheduled trains, whose operating frequencies fluctuate with the freight demand, and scheduled trains, which are operated based on regular timetables similar to passenger trains. The timetables for scheduled trains are released to the public once determined, and they are not influenced by the freight demand. Typically, the total capacity of scheduled trains can satisfy the predicted average demand of express cargos. However, in practice, the demand always changes. Therefore, a method to assign the shipments to scheduled and unscheduled train services has become an important issue faced in railway transportation. This paper focuses on the coordinated optimization of rail express cargo assignment in a hybrid train services network. On the premise of fully utilizing the capacity of scheduled train services, we propose a car-to-train assignment model to reasonably assign rail express cargos to scheduled and unscheduled trains. The objective aims to maximize the profit of transporting the rail express cargos. The constraints include the capacity restriction on the service arcs, flow balance constraints, transportation due date constraints and logical relationship constraints among the decision variables. Furthermore, we discuss a linearization technique to convert the nonlinear transportation due date constraint into a linear constraint, making it possible to solve by a standard optimization solver. Finally, an illustrative case study based on the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway Line is carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed solution approach.

Hand luggage in the train toilet.

BACKGROUND: The train toilet can form a barrier for those wishing to travel by train as it is perceived as being dirty, and therefore its use as being unpleasant. In addition, Dutch train toilet users have the additional issue of storing their hand luggage in the toilet's confined spaceOBJECTIVE:In this article, we examine the issue of Dutch travelers with hand luggage in relation to their use of train toilets. We investigate the type of hand luggage train travelers have with them and lastly, we study what travelers do with their hand luggage when using the toilet. METHODS: As part of an overarching study, we asked two specific questions on what travelers do with their hand luggage in a train toilet environment, followed by 22 observations from observational research. RESULTS: In the questionnaire, train travelers reported that bringing hand luggage into the train toilet is a problem because of the lack of storage space, and their fear of losing their seat. From the observational research, we noted that the participants mainly held their hand luggage on their bodies, and to a lesser extent, they placed it on the floor of the train toilet itself. None of the 22 participants used the hook to hang up their bag and/ or their coat. CONCLUSIONS: Travelers need a facility in the train toilet to store their hand luggage. Women have a stronger need for this than men, as they almost always carry an item with them. In addition, they use the toilet in hovering position or seated, with their backs to the wall, so they have limited space to store hand luggage on their backs or shoulders as men do. Most participants kept their hand luggage at a distance from the bowl, and the majority kept it off the floor (14 of the 22) because they were aware of the hygiene. The positioning of the coat/luggage hook at 1840 mm above the floor was considered to be too high, out of people's comfort area.

Getting more people on the stairs: The impact of point-of-decision prompts.

Individuals rarely achieve investment activities characterised by up-front costs and delayed benefits. Point-of-decision prompts (PDPs) provide information about a better alternative or a deterrent to the behavioural standard at the moment the decision is made and may affect behaviour by helping individuals perform this type of investment activities. We conducted a field experiment to assess the effects of a PDP intervention that encourages taking the stairs rather than the escalator in three Paris (France) Metro stations for eight weeks from April to July 2014. In total, we followed up 205 individuals and the data show that PDPs have an immediate, albeit decaying, peaked effect on individuals' stair use, with a stronger effect when weak physical effort is made salient. However, the intervention did not change individuals' stair-use habits. In the best-case scenario, the effects last two weeks after the intervention ends. Our preferred explanation is that PDPs act as "cues" but people become accustomed to them and in the end no longer notice them. These findings suggest that a PDP intervention is not sufficient to modify individuals investment in activities with immediate costs and delayed benefits in the long-run.

Bee Inspired Novel Optimization Algorithm and Mathematical Model for Effective and Efficient Route Planning in Railway System.

Railway and metro transport systems (RS) are becoming one of the popular choices of transportation among people, especially those who live in urban cities. Urbanization and increasing population due to rapid development of economy in many cities are leading to a bigger demand for urban rail transit. Despite being a popular variant of Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), it appears that the universal formula or techniques to solve the problem are yet to be found. This paper aims to develop an optimization algorithm for optimum route selection to multiple destinations in RS before returning to the starting point. Bee foraging behaviour is examined to generate a reliable algorithm in railway TSP. The algorithm is then verified by comparing the results with the exact solutions in 10 test cases, and a numerical case study is designed to demonstrate the application with large size sample. It is tested to be efficient and effective in railway route planning as the tour can be completed within a certain period of time by using minimal resources. The findings further support the reliability of the algorithm and capability to solve the problems with different complexity. This algorithm can be used as a method to assist business practitioners making better decision in route planning.

[WORKLOAD OF PASSENGER TRAIN DRIVER AT DIFFERENT ROADS AND DRIVING REGIMES].

There was performed a chronometer study of the workload of passenger train drivers in the work in the areas of circulation differing in the complexity of the track profile and in working in various modes of conducting the train. As a result of the chronometer study of the workload of passenger train drivers in the work in the areas of circulation differing in the complexity of the track profile there was determined the structure of the workload of the operational activity of drivers and revealed the dependence of the increase in the number of control actions in the complication of the track profile. Analysis of data obtained as a result of the study of patterns of the activity in the manual mode and with the use of the automatic driving system showed a marked decrease in active control actions, but also revealed the growing problem of physical inactivity among train drivers. In addition, the issue of the preservation of movement and motor skills when working with systems of automatic driving trains requires a more detailed study.

Performance Analysis of Stop-Skipping Scheduling Plans in Rail Transit under Time-Dependent Demand.

Stop-skipping is a key method for alleviating congestion in rail transit, where schedules are sometimes difficult to implement. Several mechanisms have been proposed and analyzed in the literature, but very few performance comparisons are available. This study formulated train choice behavior estimation into the model considering passengers' perception. If a passenger's train path can be identified, this information would be useful for improving the stop-skipping schedule service. Multi-performance is a key characteristic of our proposed five stop-skipping schedules, but quantified analysis can be used to illustrate the different effects of well-known deterministic and stochastic forms. Problems in the novel category of forms were justified in the context of a single line rather than transit network. We analyzed four deterministic forms based on the well-known A/B stop-skipping operating strategy. A stochastic form was innovatively modeled as a binary integer programming problem. We present a performance analysis of our proposed model to demonstrate that stop-skipping can feasibly be used to improve the service of passengers and enhance the elasticity of train operations under demand variations along with an explicit parametric discussion.

Evaluation of a force plate system for measuring center of pressure in railroad ballast.

Traditional biomechanical analyses have focused primarily on the human gait across hard, flat surfaces and provide little information about human locomotion as a function of work environment or terrain. The purpose of this study was evaluation of a force plate system for measure of center of pressure (COP) in railroad ballast by comparing its accuracy across three surface conditions (hard surface, mainline ballast and walking ballast) with two configurations (level and 7° cross-slope). Custom walkways and an isolation fixture were developed to rigidly attach a force plate beneath ballast surfaces to collect the COP. The difference in COP location (ΔCOPx, y, z) between the force plate system and a calibration system (motion capture derived) were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results indicate that the effects of surface condition and configuration were not significant for ΔCOPx, y, z and no differences were found among the three surface conditions during pairwise comparison, though ΔCOPx, y, z were different between the center and corners of the force plate in ballasts for both level and cross-slope configurations. The system presented in this study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring the COP by using an isolation-fixture force plate to expand the scope of biomechanical studies on ballast surfaces that are level or cross-slope.

Safety impacts of platform tram stops on pedestrians in mixed traffic operation: A comparison group before-after crash study.

Tram stops in mixed traffic environments present a variety of safety, accessibility and transport efficiency challenges. In Melbourne, Australia the hundred year-old electric tram system is progressively being modernized to improve passenger accessibility. Platform stops, incorporating raised platforms for level entry into low floor trams, are being retro-fitted system-wide to replace older design stops. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety impacts of platform stops over older design stops (i.e. Melbourne safety zone tram stops) on pedestrians in the context of mixed traffic tram operation in Melbourne, using an advanced before-after crash analysis approach, the comparison group (CG) method. The CG method evaluates safety impacts by taking into account the general trends in safety and the unobserved factors at treatment and comparison sites that can alter the outcomes of a simple before-after analysis. The results showed that pedestrian-involved all injury crashes reduced by 43% after platform stop installation. This paper also explores a concern that the conventional CG method might underestimate safety impacts as a result of large differences in passenger stop use between treatment and comparison sites, suggesting differences in crash risk exposure. To adjust for this, a modified analysis explored crash rates (crash counts per 10,000 stop passengers) for each site. The adjusted results suggested greater reductions in pedestrian-involved crashes after platform stop installation: an 81% reduction in pedestrian-involved all injury crashes and 86% reduction in pedestrian-involved FSI crashes, both are significant at the 95% level. Overall, the results suggest that platform stops have considerable safety benefits for pedestrians. Implications for policy and areas for future research are explored.

[Formation of working conditions and the problems of hygienic assessment of industrial environmental factors in railway tunnels].

Tunnels are an integral part of the ways and artificial constructions of the railway. Objective assessment of working conditions is important, because current regulations fail to allow to give a definite hygienic assessment of some factors of the production environment of the tunnels. Objective: to reveal the peculiarities of the formation of working conditions in railway tunnels with the subsequent hygienic assessment for the development of preventive measures. Measurement of the factors of working process and working environment is carried out with the use of the certified equipment for the approved the hygienic and sanitary-chemical methods in workplaces in tunnels of the East-Siberian railway. Specific conditions were shown to be formed due to constructive solutions, climate and geographical location, the length of railway tunnels, the composition of the rocks through which the tunnel, the nature of the maintenance tunnels, ventilation system, repetition rate and type of passing rolling stock. All employees from occupational groups from examined tunnels were established to be exposed to high concentrations of aerosols with predominantly fibrogenic action, noise levels, adverse climate (low positive and negative temperatures, high relative humidity and mobility of air), the lack of natural lighting, low levels of artificial light, hard exertion of labor (dynamic physical load, working position, the slopes of the body, movement in space). Additionally, high levels of the vibration, nonionizing and ionizing radiation were typical for jobs of the Baikal and the North-Muya tunnel. There is proposed the algorithm of hygienic assessment of the microclimate, light environment at the working places depending on the time of the works in the underground conditions and constructional features of tunnels, methods of accounting personnel dose rates from natural sources.

[The impact of harmful occupational factors on the morbidity rate of workers of the railway-car repair plant].

The rail transport is the one of the leading sectors of the national economy. More than 50% of the employees of the enterprises of the railway complex work under the unfavourable impact of hazardous and dangerous substances and occupational factors. In the literature issues of working conditions and health of employees of railway carrepairing plant are hardly highlighted. The aim of the study is the evaluation of the morbidity rate shaped under the influence of harmful occupational factors for the elaboration of preventive measures. In the work there were used generally accepted methods of hygienic studies, analysis of morbidity rate with temporary disability (TD), according to records of periodic medical examinations, occupational prevalence. The railway car-repairing plant was established to be characterized by the complex of harmful factors of the working environment and labor process: noise, local vibration, industrial aerosols of complex composition, chemicals, low light, hardness of the labor process. The levels of incidence with temporal disability in the studied groups, depending on the work seniority in the harmful labor conditions, significantly decrease with the experience from 5 to 9 years and increase with the experience more than 10 years. Executed in-depth analysis as of the both morbidity rate and TD, as well results of periodic medical examinations of workers of main shops shows that overall indices of the morbidity rate and TD are significantly higher than in the comparison group; levels of the morbidity rate and TD in the observed groups significantly decline depending on the length of service in hazardous working conditions with a length of the experience offrom 5 to 9 years and increase with the increase in the length of experience of 10 years or more. In the structure of morbidity and TD leading positions are occupied by diseases of the respiratory system, musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, circulatory system and digestive system, diseases of the eye and its appendages. The health damage risk coefficients in the studied groups of workers and the average losses of working time due to the morbidity with TD per 1 employee in all shops are higher than those in the comparison group. The level of the occupational morbidity rate is very low. Harmful working conditions contribute to the development of general and occupationally related diseases.

Train repathing in emergencies based on fuzzy linear programming.

Train pathing is a typical problem which is to assign the train trips on the sets of rail segments, such as rail tracks and links. This paper focuses on the train pathing problem, determining the paths of the train trips in emergencies. We analyze the influencing factors of train pathing, such as transferring cost, running cost, and social adverse effect cost. With the overall consideration of the segment and station capability constraints, we build the fuzzy linear programming model to solve the train pathing problem. We design the fuzzy membership function to describe the fuzzy coefficients. Furthermore, the contraction-expansion factors are introduced to contract or expand the value ranges of the fuzzy coefficients, coping with the uncertainty of the value range of the fuzzy coefficients. We propose a method based on triangular fuzzy coefficient and transfer the train pathing (fuzzy linear programming model) to a determinate linear model to solve the fuzzy linear programming problem. An emergency is supposed based on the real data of the Beijing-Shanghai Railway. The model in this paper was solved and the computation results prove the availability of the model and efficiency of the algorithm.

Optimal path choice in railway passenger travel network based on residual train capacity.

Passenger's optimal path choice is one of the prominent research topics in the field of railway passenger transport organization. More and more different train types are available, increasing path choices from departure to destination for travelers are unstoppable. However, travelers cannot avoid being confused when they hope to choose a perfect travel plan based on various travel time and cost constraints before departure. In this study, railway passenger travel network is constructed based on train timetable. Both the generalized cost function we developed and the residual train capacity are considered to be the foundation of path searching procedure. The railway passenger travel network topology is analyzed based on residual train capacity. Considering the total travel time, the total travel cost, and the total number of passengers, we propose an optimal path searching algorithm based on residual train capacity in railway passenger travel network. Finally, the rationale of the railway passenger travel network and the optimal path generation algorithm are verified positively by case study.

Reconsidering the effects of blue-light installation for prevention of railway suicides.

BACKGROUND: A recent preliminary communication suggested that the calming effect of blue lights installed at the ends of railway platforms in Japan reduced suicides by 84%. This estimate is potentially misleading from an epidemiological point of view and is reconsidered in the present study. METHODS: Governmental data listing all railway suicide attempts in Japan from April 2002 to March 2012 were used to investigate the proportion of suicide attempts within station premises, where blue lights are potentially installed, and at night, when they would be lit. For those suicide attempts within station premises, we also estimated the proportion that occurred at the ends of the platforms at night. RESULTS: Of 5841 total reported suicide attempts, 43% occurred within the station premises, 43% occurred at night (from 18:00 to 05:59), and 14% occurred both within the station premises and at night. Of the 2535 attempts within station premises, 32% occurred at night and 28% at most were at the end of a platform at night. LIMITATIONS: The exact proportion of nighttime suicide attempts at the ends of railway platforms was not calculable. Nonetheless, the proportion of suicide attempts that is potentially preventable by blue lights should be less than our conservative estimate. CONCLUSIONS: The installation of blue lights on platforms, even were they to have some effect in preventing railway suicides at night, would have a much smaller impact than previously estimated.

Passenger behavior in trains during emergency situations.

INTRODUCTION: This research presents a methodology for analyzing the behavior of people (passengers and crew) involved in emergency situations on passenger trains. METHODS: This methodological tool centers around a qualitative character study coming from Focus Groups (FG) and in-depth interviews to extract the determinant variables on passenger and crew behavior when faced with certain emergency situations on trains. RESULTS: This research has led to the creation of a classification of possible behaviors associated to each type of incident and dependent on certain variables. The qualitative study was used as the basis for modeling stated preference data using logit type discrete choice models to characterize and quantify the behavior. The most important results show that the determinant variables on passenger behavior correspond to the type of emergency suffered (its degree of seriousness), the type of passenger, the reasons for the journey (demands of time), the information received during the incident, the relationship between crew and passengers, the duration of the incident and the conditions (temperature control, availability of water, occupancy of the train), the distance to the destination station, and finally, the outside weather conditions. This research was carried out using the Spanish railway network as its reference, although it is applicable to any geographical area. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The results show that the information variable should be considered in the development of future research and that the evidences of this research can be used to develop behavioral models for modeling railway passenger evacuations.