The Effect of Railway Projects Increasing Safety on the Frequency of Occurrences

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article assesses the frequency and incidence of incidents at several levels: the average incidence of incidents, the impact of construction rate on the incidence of incidents, the incidence of incidents in relation to the length of upgraded infrastructure, the incidence of incidents in relation to transport performance. The basic assumption is that there is a correlation between the volume of traffic performance and the probability of occurrence of incidents. The presented data and analysis responds to the formulated analysis to what extent the modernisation of the railway infrastructure influences the occurrence of incidents and the severity of the consequences of these incidents. 

Quality:

The article has the usual structure of scientific articles, has a data base of emergencies for the period 2011-2018. The article monetizes the change in the frequency and frequency of occurrence of incidents after the modernization of the railway infrastructure through the established methodology for the evaluation of infrastructure projects CBA - socio-economic impacts on society as a whole, quantifying the change first in natural units through the change in categorized incidents and then in monetized form through the change in the number of deaths, serious injuries and minor injuries, as well as the decrease in the delay of trains operating on the modernized lines. The paper uses the incremental cost method, i.e. compares the amount of costs of accidents and delays of trains before and after the lines are upgraded.

Scientific Soundness:

The article summarizes the results of an analytical analysis task of statistical data from the field of railway infrastructure modernization and the occurrence and frequency of incidents on different types of lines and lengths of projects that have been modernized in the Czech Republic. In the paper, the authors have made several generalizations, as it was not possible to achieve full data consistency in terms of available statistical data on modernization, incidence of incidents, unit costs for the valuation of socio-economic costs. The analysis carried out is understandable in terms of methodological approach and allows reproduction when updating the documents or for application to similar tasks.

Interest to the Readers:

Readers comparing the impact of modernisation on the socio-economic costs and the occurrence and frequency of incidents as well as on railway safety in general may find the article attractive. The article is processed graphically, so that the reader will be interested not only in the topic but also in the graphic presentation.

Author Response

Dear reviewer, thanks a lot for the review.

No changes were required.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The work does not conform to the title. The security systems used in the evaluation were not described. The paper contains only a summary of incidents. No references to Figures 1 and 2. In line 250 and 277, bad numbering of subsections. Data used for publication outdated. Should be supplemented with current data and reference how equipment upgrades affect the number of occurrences of hazardous events.

Author Response

Dear reviewer, Thank you for your review and relevant recommendations. Their settlement is as follows:

1. The work does not conform to the title.

Answer:               The title changed

2. The security systems used in the evaluation were not described. The paper contains only a summary of incidents.

Answer:               Added to the page 6.

3. No references to Figures 1 and 2. In line 250 and 277, bad numbering of subsections.

Answer:               Added to the page 7.

                           Numbering corrected.

4. Data used for publication outdated. Should be supplemented with current data and reference how equipment upgrades affect the number of occurrences of hazardous events.

Answer:               Comments added to the pages 5 and 10.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors present a methodology and study that relate the increase in railway safety and reliability to the frequency of event occurrences from a socio-economic perspective. The paper is original and found key indicators relevant to railway sector.

Comments for improving the paper:

·         In the abstract, the authors should indicate the country where the study is applied. Also, since there are multiple authors, rewrite the sentence “I perceive the impact…” in plural form.

·         The state of the art is recent and fits the scope of the paper. However, the authors could review and include papers published in 2024.

·         The methods are well explained and applied. The authors could indicate why these specific factors were chosen for the study and not others, or why more factors were not included.

·         In the discussion section, it would be helpful to compare the study results with existing literature using a table (occurrence frequencies and other indicators).

·         In the conclusion section, the authors should clearly indicate how this research will address the gaps (the number of key indicators?) in the literature and its socio-economic influence on the railway sector. If possible, also include the main numerical results. Will this methodology and these indicators be applicable in other countries?

Author Response

Dear reviewer, Thank you for your review and relevant recommendations. Their settlement is as follows:

Comments for improving the paper:

• In the abstract, the authors should indicate the country where the study is applied. Also, since there are multiple authors, rewrite the sentence “I perceive the impact…” in plural form.

         Answer:               Added to the abstract.

• The state of the art is recent and fits the scope of the paper. However, the authors could review and include papers published in 2024.

         Answer:               Added to the pages 2 and 14.

• The methods are well explained and applied. The authors could indicate why these specific factors were chosen for the study and not others, or why more factors were not included.

         Answer:               Added to the page 4.

• In the discussion section, it would be helpful to compare the study results with existing literature using a table (occurrence frequencies and other indicators).

         Answer:               Comments added to the page 12.

• In the conclusion section, the authors should clearly indicate how this research will address the gaps (the number of key indicators?) in the literature and its socio-economic influence on the railway sector. If possible, also include the main numerical results. Will this methodology and these indicators be applicable in other countries?

         Answer:               Added to the page 12-13.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors have addressed the comments properly and the paper have been improved.