Exploratory Railway Track Structure, Railway Operation and Transport in Sustainable Development of Railway Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Rail transport is a continuous process that must be coordinated at all levels of management, and it is influence by management, operation and technological procedures involved in passenger and freight transport, as well as the modernisation of the railway infrastructure, without which the railway transport systems would not function. Good transport infrastructures that can ensure the most flexible mobility of people and goods within the most favourable parameters are important to ensure sustainable, competitive rail transport. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure quality infrastructure with a focus on ecological modes of transport, especially rail transport. Securing railway infrastructure is a prerequisite for ensuring the quality of railway transport from not only a national but also a regional point of view. Based on knowledge of transport capacity, it is possible to determine the capacity of railway infrastructure.

This Special Issue is devoted to the investigation of railway infrastructure, its structure and its capacity. It also deals with the management and operation of railway transport within the principles of sustainable development of railway systems, the modelling and prediction of transport performance, and innovations in the railway transport sector. Since our focus is currently on quality infrastructure and reliable train operation, these research works provide insights into the innovation of railway transport systems, their management and predictions of future developments with the support of sustainable development models.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue. Original research articles and reviews will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of railway infrastructure and the operation of railway passenger and freight transport and innovations in railway transport systems within the framework of sustainable development of railway systems, as well as offer valuable insights into future developments in this area. By supporting rail transport and encouraging passengers to use an ecological transport option, we can improve understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to the sustainable development of railway systems to discuss and motivate further research and contribute to the realisation of a more sustainable and resilient railway transport sector.

In this Special Issue, research topics may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Simulation and modelling of railway infrastructure (modernisation, maintenance activities, infrastructure interruptions, train flows, freight trains);
• Railway capacity (management of railway operations, planning, optimisation, modelling and prediction of transport performances, optimisation of passenger flows, timetabling, railway network);
• Sustainable transport services;
• Sustainable railway system (integration transport system, mobility);
• Railway technology;
• Railway sidings;
• Automatisation in railway transportation;
• Digitalisation and innovation of railways.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Zdenka Bulková
Guest Editor

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• railway infrastructure
• railway tracks
• railway operation
• rail transportation
• timetabling
• rail transport management
• sustainable railway system
• modelling and simulation
• rail passengers mobility
• transport services