Cost effective future derailment mitigation techniques for rail freight traffic management in Europe

Safe and reliable traffic management is vital for uninterrupted and successful operation of the European rail network, where mixed traffic (i.e. freight and passenger) services are run. Although rail freight derailment is infrequent, its consequences can be severe and may result in different forms of costs, including infrastructure; rolling stock; traffic disruptions; injuries and fatalities. The objective of this research paper is to conduct a cost benefit analysis (CBA) to identify cost effective mitigation techniques for efficient rail freight traffic management in Europe, by 2050. Reviewing previous derailments and studies, eight sets of derailment causes are analysed and, for each of them, sets of mitigation techniques are aimed at for their alleviation. The study finds that the highest cumulative costs of derailment are associated with ‘wheel failure’, while the lowest cumulative cost is identified for ‘excessive track width’. Regarding mitigation techniques, the lowest cumulative benefits are demonstrated for ‘track height’ interventions, whereas ‘wheel failure’ alleviation demonstrates the highest benefits, in value terms (all by 2050). In most cases, the benefit to cost ratio did not exceed 2.6; in two cases (‘track height’ and ‘rail failures’) the ratio remained below 1 – a negative outcome where cost is higher than benefit. The study suggests that the most cost-efficient interventions are those applied to ‘hot axle box and axle rupture’ and ‘spring and suspension failure’.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2015.06.017
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0968090X15002326
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0968090X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Islam, Dewan Md Zahurul
  • Laparidou, Konstantina
  • Burgess, Arnaud
• Publication Date: 2016-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 185-196
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies
  • Volume: 70
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0968-090X
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0968090X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Derailments; Freight traffic; Hazard mitigation; Impacts; Railroad traffic control; Railroad transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Long term impacts
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01611452
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 23 2016 11:17AM