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Sustainable Railway Construction, Operation and Transportation
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Sustainable Railway Construction, Operation and Transportation

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (6 October 2024) | Viewed by 4654

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jozef Gasparik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Railway Transport, Faculty of Operation and Economics of Transport and Communications, University of Žilina, 010 26 Žilina, Slovakia
Interests: transportation; railway capacity; intermodal transport; transport logistics; railway
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Libor Ižvolt

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Railway Engineering and Track Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Žilina, 010 26 Žilina, Slovakia
Interests: design; construction; reconstruction and modernisation of railway infrastructure and urban rail systems from a sustainability perspective (the focus of the research is mainly oriented to the area of the substructure of rail transport)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The construction, development and renewal of railway infrastructures are necessary for a sustainable economy to continue the regular and safe transportation of passengers and reliable freight transport. For this, it is essential to operate railway lines with appropriate quality, which will enable an extensive and competitive alternative to an ecologically advantageous mode of transport.

This Special Issue is dedicated to exploring and advancing the principles of sustainability within the domain of railway systems, encompassing construction, operation and transportation. As the global community grapples with the imperative to mitigate environmental impacts and promote resilience in the transportation sector, this compilation of research papers provides a comprehensive examination of innovative strategies, technologies and practices aimed at fostering sustainability in railway infrastructure.

The first issue addresses Sustainable Railway Construction, shedding light on environmentally responsible construction methodologies, eco-friendly materials and sustainable design approaches. Contributions within this domain examine novel materials, construction techniques and sustainable infrastructure design, with a keen focus on minimizing ecological impact and optimizing long-term resilience.

The second thematic focus of the issue centers on Sustainable Railway Operation, exploring advancements in energy-efficient operations, intelligent traffic management systems and predictive maintenance protocols. By examining the operational aspects of railways through a sustainability lens, the research presented in this section aims to enhance operational efficiency while minimizing the ecological footprint of railway services.

The third issue investigates Sustainable Railway Transportation, addressing the broader implications of rail travel in the context of environmental sustainability. Researchers in this domain investigate modal shift dynamics, intermodal connectivity and the role of railways in fostering a more sustainable and integrated transportation network. Insights from this section contribute to the development of policies and practices that encourage environmentally conscious transportation choices.

We look forward to your contributions to this Special Issue. Original research articles and reviews will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of sustainable railway systems and offer valuable insights into the future trajectory of the field. By fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within Sustainable Railway Construction, Operation and Transportation, this collection aims to catalyze informed discussions, inspire further research and, ultimately, contribute to the realization of a more sustainable and resilient railway sector.

Kind regards,

Dr. Jozef Gasparik
Dr. Libor Ižvolt
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable transport
  • railway construction
  • railway operation and capacity
  • railway transportation
  • innovation and ecology in railway transport

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 2752 KiB  
Article
Prediction of Transport Performance Development Due to the Impact of COVID-19 Measures in the Context of Sustainable Mobility in Railway Passenger Transport in the Slovak Republic
by Jozef Gašparík, Zdenka Bulková and Milan Dedík
Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5283; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135283 - 21 Jun 2024
Viewed by 746
Abstract
The disease COVID-19 negatively affected sustainable mobility, including public passenger transport, as it was necessary to take several measures to reduce the population’s mobility. It also limited rail passenger transport. Railway operators suffered from a significantly reduced number of passengers. An analysis of [...] Read more.
The disease COVID-19 negatively affected sustainable mobility, including public passenger transport, as it was necessary to take several measures to reduce the population’s mobility. It also limited rail passenger transport. Railway operators suffered from a significantly reduced number of passengers. An analysis of the transport performance of railway passenger transport is conducted in a case study in Slovakia. Based on the decline in transport performance in railway passenger transport and the degree of measures introduced, a new methodology and procedure for introducing pandemic measures are proposed in the context of reducing the scope of rail passenger transport. The measures are proposed under the condition that it is necessary to monitor the roles and responsibilities of railway infrastructure managers and rail passenger operators. The proposed methodology includes a transport performance forecast according to the defined transport reduction measure level and the train traffic diagram variants on the model railway line in the case of levels of the implemented measures. These proposals will contribute to higher quality and more efficient railway transportation, including optimal use of railway infrastructure capacity during emergency situations. The novelty of the research lies in the new methodological procedure and its practical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Railway Construction, Operation and Transportation)
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17 pages, 8897 KiB  
Article
The Detection of Railheads: An Innovative Direct Image Processing Method
by Volodymyr Tverdomed, Zhuk Dmytro, Natalia Kokriatska and Vaidas Lukoševičius
Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 5109; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125109 - 15 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1019
Abstract
This study presents a fully automated railhead detection method based on a direct image processing algorithm for use on a railway track. This method functions at a much faster pace than artificial intelligence algorithms that process rail images on embedded systems or low-power [...] Read more.
This study presents a fully automated railhead detection method based on a direct image processing algorithm for use on a railway track. This method functions at a much faster pace than artificial intelligence algorithms that process rail images on embedded systems or low-power devices, as it does not require the use of significant computing resources. With the use of this method, railheads can be analyzed to identify the presence of cracks and other defects. We converted color images to halftone images, performed histogram equalizations to improve the contrast, applied a Gaussian filter to reduce the presence of noise, utilized convolutional filters to extract any vertical and horizontal lines, applied the Canny method and Sobel filters to refine the boundaries of the extracted lines, applied the Hough transform technique to extract lines belonging to the railhead images, and identified the segments with the highest brightness values to process the images of the railheads under study. The method of railhead separation described in this article will allow for further comprehensive diagnostics of the condition of rail threads to ensure the safe and sustainable operation of railway transport. The implementation of intelligent maintenance systems and effective monitoring of railway track conditions can reduce the negative impact on the environment and contribute to the advancement of rail transport as a sustainable, safe, and more environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Railway Construction, Operation and Transportation)
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23 pages, 2100 KiB  
Article
Novel ‘Closed’-System Approach for Monitoring the Technical Condition of Railway Tracks
by Iryna Bondarenko, Vaidas Lukoševičius and Larysa Neduzha
Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3180; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083180 - 10 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1063
Abstract
Assessing the technical condition of a railway track throughout its service life is crucial to ensuring functional safety. However, it is important to note that current approaches have theoretical and practical gaps that require attention. The purpose of this study is to discuss [...] Read more.
Assessing the technical condition of a railway track throughout its service life is crucial to ensuring functional safety. However, it is important to note that current approaches have theoretical and practical gaps that require attention. The purpose of this study is to discuss the reconceptualization of an integrated approach to assess changes in the technical condition of railway tracks caused by rolling stock over their service life. Improving existing systems for assessing the condition of the track can be achieved by modifying the model concept and, subsequently, the measurement and assessment procedures. This paper presents an alternative method for addressing technical issues related to the monitoring and diagnosis of railway tracks, with a particular focus on natural phenomena: energy transfer by elastic waves. The primary aim of this work is to propose an approach for designing a ‘closed’ measurement system that enables tracking of the cause-and-effect relationship. This system takes into account both the elastic dissipative characteristics of the track–rolling stock interaction and the influence of the dynamics of various components in the ‘train-track’ system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Railway Construction, Operation and Transportation)
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12 pages, 825 KiB  
Article
A Study on a Solution for Standardization Work for the Sustainable Development of Railway Enterprises
by Jingsheng Li, Zhenghu Pang, Xize Liu, Nana Niu and Bingyan Zhang
Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2564; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062564 - 20 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1023
Abstract
As one of the most widely used modes of transportation worldwide, the standardization work of railways is of great significance for improving operational efficiency, enhancing service quality, and promoting sustainable development. Through research on railway enterprises, this paper proposes a standardization work solution [...] Read more.
As one of the most widely used modes of transportation worldwide, the standardization work of railways is of great significance for improving operational efficiency, enhancing service quality, and promoting sustainable development. Through research on railway enterprises, this paper proposes a standardization work solution applicable to railway enterprises of different sizes, which includes six steps. It is found that railway enterprises of different sizes can use the solution proposed in this study to carry out standardization work, but the results of different railway enterprises using this solution to carry out standardization work may be different, and the results of different units using this solution to carry out standardization work within the same railway enterprises are not comparable. Railway enterprises should strengthen cooperation and learn from each other’s advanced experience. Furthermore, the solution in this study can serve as a reference for different railway enterprises to carry out standardization work and contribute to the sustainable development of railway enterprises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Railway Construction, Operation and Transportation)
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