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Sammanfattning av resultat, erfarenheter och lärdomar från ELVIS demonstrationsprojekt för längre och tyngre tåg

Summary of results, experiences and lessons learned from ELVIS demonstration project for longer and heavier trains

The ELVIS demonstration project aims to analyze how rail freight transports can be performed more efficient. Hypotheses are that the transport efficiency can be improved by using longer and heavier freight trains and by implementing energy-related measures, and that there may be additional benefits for the firms and the whole society such as better utilization of the track capacity. This report summarizes the results and experiences from the three previously produced sub reports. The first sub report contains an inventory of the previously conducted investigations and trials with longer and heavier freight trains, Hedström (2013). The second sub report describes the current conditions and evaluates the use of a 730 meter long train (instead of the current maximum train length of 630 meters) for the transport of paper rolls about 900 kilometers from Gävle to Malmö, Carlsson, Törnquist Kraseman & Vierth (2014). The third sub report Ahlberg (2014) refers to timber transports on rail. The experiment with higher axle loads could not be implemented as planned. Instead it was tested how the electricity consumption per gross tonne-kilometer can be reduced by using longer trains (18 instead of 16 cars) on the about 200 kilometres long route between Mora and Gävle. In terms of both energy efficiency and overall efficiency for the rail transports researchers, companies and the Transport Administration concluded that there is a big need to secure the quality secure the data that is produced. This applies to information about electricity consumption and the factors that possibly affect electricity consumption per (gross) tonne-kilometer, i.e. the train length, the gross weight of the train, number of stops, speed, the driving style, topography and so on. The ELVIS project initiated a follow-up project that aims to compile and analyze the Transport Administration’s various databases in this area. The project will provide answers to questions such as what data the various databases contain, how data is collected and stored, for what purpose the data is collected and used, the extent to which data is quality assured and how data from different databases can be linked together. Despite the various problems related to data, the project team and the involved organizations think that they have learned a lot along the way. This applies both to the solution of interesting and disturbing problems and the identification of different efficiency potentials and the start of follow up projects and so on. The forestry companies, that are part of the ELVIS-project, and other shippers and transport companies etc. see opportunities to reduce transport costs by using longer and heavier trains and improving the efficiency of electricity use. The Transport Administration sees that the use of longer and heavier trains makes it possible to use the existing (or slightly expanded) rail infrastructure more efficiently. The Transport Administration sees opportunities to improve energy efficiency by measuring the electricity consumption and analyzing the factors affecting electricity consumption. Based on the studies conducted, demonstration trials and the literature, it can be stated that the topography and the drivers' driving style affect the electricity consumption. The regression analyzes conducted within the ELVIS project do not allow to say with certainty how the length and weight of the train and the number of stops affect electricity consumption per (gross)tonne-kilometer. In the trial with longer trains between Gävle and Malmö an important conclusion is that it is technically feasible to operate freight trains that are longer than 630 meters, but there are organizational barriers. To run longer trains can require some adaptions of the system and its operators, i.e. in the form of longer journey times for rail passengers, and the balance between the pros and cons is a central issue. To use the infrastructure more efficient, the ELVIS-project proposes, as a temporary solution, the use of dedicated channels for longer freight trains in specific corridors. The allocation of paths in these channels can be made during the regular track allocation. However, it would require a commitment of Transport Administration to allocate train paths flexibly and effectively for society.

Language

  • Swedish

Media Info

  • Pagination: 30
  • Serial:
    • VTI NOTAT
    • Issue Number: 25-2014
    • Publisher: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01558107
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
  • Files: ITRD, VTI
  • Created Date: Mar 27 2015 12:07PM