ABSTRACT

In a rapidly changing world, with increasing competition in all sectors of transportation, railways are in a period of restructuring their management and technology. New methods of organization are introduced, commercial and tariff policies change radically, a more entrepreneurial spirit is required. At the same time, new high-speed tracks are being constructed and old tracks are renewed, high-comfort rolling stock vehicles are being introduced, logistics and combined transport are being developed. Awareness of environmental issues and the search for greater safety give a new role to the railways within the transportation system. Meanwhile, methods of analysis have significantly evolved, principally due to computer applications and new ways of thinking and approaching old problems. Thus, it becomes necessary to come up with a new scientific approach to tackle management and engineering aspects of railways, to understand in-depth the origins and inter-relationships of the various situations and phenomena and to suggest the appropriate methods and solutions to solve the various emerging problems.

This book aims to cover the need for a new scientific approach for railways. It is intended to be of use to railway managers, economists and engineers, consulting economists and engineers, students of schools of engineering, transportation, economics, and management. The book is divided into three parts, which deal successively with management, track, and rolling stock, environment and safety. Each chapter of the book contains the necessary theoretical analysis of the phenomena studied, the recommended solutions, applications, charts and design of the specific railway component. In this way, both the requirement for a theoretical analysis is met, and the need of the railway manager and engineer for tables, nomographs, regulations, etc. is satisfied. Railways in Europe have separated activities of infrastructure from those of operation. In other parts of the world, however, railways remain unified. The book addresses both situations (separated and unified railways). Railways present great differences in their technologies. Something may be valid for one such technology, but not for another. To overcome this problem, regulations of the International Union of Railways (UIC) as well as European Standardization (CEN) and European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) have been used to the greatest extent possible. Whenever a specific technology or method is presented, the limits of its application are clearly emphasized.

chapter 1|25 pages

Railways and Transport

chapter 2|17 pages

High Speeds and Magnetic Levitation

chapter 3|24 pages

Policy and Legislation

chapter 4|21 pages

Forecast of Rail Demand

chapter 5|31 pages

Costs and Pricing

chapter 6|34 pages

Planning and Management of Railways

chapter 7|19 pages

The Track System

chapter 8|25 pages

Mechanical Behavior of Track

chapter 10|33 pages

The Rail

chapter 11|24 pages

Sleepers – Fastenings

chapter 12|21 pages

Ballast

chapter 13|13 pages

Transverse Effects - Derailment

chapter 14|22 pages

Track Layout

chapter 15|13 pages

Switches and Crossings

chapter 16|21 pages

Laying and Maintenance of Track

chapter 17|9 pages

Slab Track

chapter 18|21 pages

Train Dynamics

chapter 19|13 pages

Rolling Stock

chapter 20|25 pages

Diesel and Electric Traction

chapter 21|20 pages

Signaling – Safety – Interoperability

chapter 22|19 pages

Environmental Effects of Railways