Search Results (34)

This study explores strategies for dynamic pricing and flexible refund fee setting in railway line services, aiming to optimize ticket sales revenue by integrating refund mechanisms into the revenue management framework. By introducing a consistent concept of opportunity cost applicable to both passengers and railway operators, we propose an integrated approach that combines dynamic pricing with flexible refund fees grounded in the demand-driven opportunity cost of seat resources. A dynamic programming model is constructed to quantify the opportunity cost of seat resources. To address the computational challenges arising from the model’s scale, state and time dimension compression methods are applied to develop an approximate linear programming model with fewer constraints. The proposed model is solved using a turning point search algorithm and a constraint generation algorithm. Numerical experiments and ticket sales simulations are conducted to verify the feasibility of the proposed methods and to explore the application effects of different pricing strategy combinations. The results demonstrate that the integration of dynamic pricing and flexible refund fees can significantly enhance ticket sales revenue, particularly in scenarios of supply shortfall. Full article

This article discusses the current requirements for laboratory testing of the fire properties of seating in railway vehicles and the criteria for their assessment. The results of flammability and smoke tests performed on selected passenger seats and samples of the upholstery systems used in their construction are presented in order to find connections between them. It was demonstrated that the composition of the upholstery fabric has a significant impact on the burning behavior of the seats and the upholstery systems themselves, assuming that the same foam was used in their construction. Based on the conducted research, material composition analysis, and results, a lack of correlation was also found between the results of tests using a cone calorimeter and a furniture calorimeter. This confirms that the fire properties of upholstered products depend on many factors, including composition, shape, materials used, type of upholstery, and the design solutions of the finished seats. The tested upholstered products intended for railway applications are characterized by stochastic variability resulting from their specific applications and functional and operational properties. Full article

The article explores the capacity of zero-emission urban public transport (PT) and proposes a standardised method for calculating it across different PT corridors (bus, tram, metro and urban railway). As the European Union (EU) tightens regulations on emissions, targeting also PT, cities are increasingly shifting to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. A significant challenge was the lack of a unified methodology to calculate the capacity of zero-emission vehicles, e.g., battery-powered buses carry fewer passengers than diesel ones due to weight restrictions. The article addresses this gap by creating capacity matrices for various vehicle types based on standardised assumptions. Vehicle capacity is calculated based on seating and standing space, with standing passenger space standardised to 0.2 m²/person (E Level of Service). A detailed rolling stock analysis shows how modern designs and floor layouts impact passenger space. Matrices were developed for each mode of transport, showing the number of transported passengers per hour depending on vehicle type and service frequency. The highest capacity is achieved by metro and urban railway systems (up to 95,000+ passengers/hour/direction), while buses offer the lowest (up to 7800 passengers/hour/direction). The authors recommend standardising calculation methods and integrating matrices into planning tools for urban PT corridors. Full article

In the transportation organization optimization of high-speed railway (HSR), optimizations such as line planning, ticket pricing, and seat allocation are generally studied separately. However, in reality, when passengers choose trains, they need to consider multiple factors such as train routes, stop plans, seat prices, seat availability, and departure times. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an integrated optimization method to simultaneously make decisions regarding these multiple factors. This study constructs a nonlinear optimization model of line planning integrating differentiated pricing and seat allocation decisions for HSR under elastic demand. To efficiently solve the model, an improved heuristic algorithm based on the simulated annealing framework combined with a linear passenger flow allocation method is proposed. Finally, case analysis proves that the improved algorithm can effectively solve the model under the input conditions of an actual Y-shaped HSR network composed of 13 stations, with a potential for a 106.54% improvement from the initial solution to the final solution. The uniqueness of our study lies in the joint optimization of three critical HSR operations, which has not been comprehensively explored in prior studies and is of great significance for improving the level of HSR train operations and passenger services. Full article

The accurate prediction of structural performance in sheet-metal components is critical for optimizing design and ensuring reliability in engineering applications. This study emphasizes the necessity of incorporating non-uniformities induced by stamping processes, such as thickness variation and work-hardening effects, into Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations. Experimental and computational analyses reveal that neglecting these variations results in significant discrepancies, particularly in displacement predictions, where deviations exceeding 50% were observed at specific points. While elastic behavior showed reasonable agreement with experimental results, plastic deformation predictions were notably less accurate due to the inherent inhomogeneities of the real work-hardening model compared to the uniform assumptions in standard FEM models. These findings underscore the need for improved methodologies in mapping stamping-induced material properties and validating simulation results. Further refinement of mapping accuracy and validation techniques is essential for enhancing the predictive capabilities of FEM simulations for complex sheet-metal components. Full article

This study shows how the fire regulations for railway seats used in international traffic have changed over the last 30 years. In the past, a paper cushion was used as a flame source, and today, a 15 kW burner is used; consequently, the requirements have increased. In the paper cushion test, a foam with a density of between 60 and 95 kg/m³, a flame-retardant fleece, and a cover fabric was usually sufficient in terms of fire safety. Today, a high-quality flame-retardant foam is necessary to meet the requirements for flaming with the 15 kW burner. Two comparable seat structures show very different heat release and smoke formation in the paper cushion test due to different foam additives. If high-quality flame-retardant foams with a cover fabric are used for the 15 kW flame treatment, the results of the two test institutes show good agreement. If the seats that meet the requirements of the paper cushion test are flamed using the 15 kW treatment, they can catch fire and thus exhibit very different heat release rates, as the CERTIFER interlaboratory test with 12 participating test institutes shows. The heat release of old and new leather was examined, and it was found that the flame retardant applied to the leather surface appeared to have aged over the years and that the flame retardant was therefore no longer effective. The heat release of flame-retardant foams with a cover fabric was measured using irradiation with a cone calorimeter and flame treatment. Very different curves were observed, which means that it is not possible to draw simple conclusions about the heat release during flame treatment from the cone measurement. Full article

This study analyses the potential carrying of bicycles inside a train carriage. To this end, an experimental methodology based on observation and experimentation is implemented. The survey is conducted on the metro system in Valparaíso, Chile, highlighting the importance of intermodality between bicycles and trains. It identifies that the current capacity of the carriages is not adequate to ensure safety and efficiency during boarding and alighting. As a result of the survey, a solution is tested to reduce the number of seats in the carriage and create a designated special waiting area for cyclists. This test is conducted experimentally in a laboratory, using a full-scale model of a metro carriage and its corresponding platform. The experiments show that the designated special waiting area for bicycles reduces boarding time and results in a better distribution of passengers inside the carriage, offering a solution that improves both safety and efficiency. This study could contribute to the development of incentive policies for intermodality, which is a key aspect in achieving sustainability in railway transportation systems. Future research will aim to expand this study by including other carriage configurations and a wider variation of demand levels. Full article

The aim of this research was to explore the innovative use of natural additives, containing phytochemicals with proven antimicrobial effects, in the production of epoxy–glass composites. This study was based on information regarding the antimicrobial effects of phytochemicals present in Cistus incanus, Zingiber officinale, and Armoracia rusticana. The additives were subjected to a gas chromatography (GC) analysis to determine their composition, and, subsequently, they were used to prepare resin mixtures and to produce epoxy–glass composites. Samples of the modified materials were tested against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans. In addition, flammability and durability tests were also performed. It was found that the strongest biocidal properties were demonstrated by the material with the addition of cistus, which caused a reduction of microorganisms by 2.13 log units (S. aureus), 1.51 log units (E. coli), and 0.81 log units (C. albicans). The same material also achieved the most favorable results of strength tests, with the values of flexural strength and tensile strength reaching 390 MPa and 280 MPa, respectively. Public transport is a place particularly exposed to various types of pathogens. Currently, there are no solutions on the railway market that involve the use of composites modified in this respect. Full article

The seat characteristics have high relevance in overall comfort on any transportation means. In particular, the foam’s mechanical properties, interface pressure, and contact temperature play an important role in low- or no-vibration situations regarding static comfort. The present work presents the complete protocol for a static evaluation of different foams and seat covers to assess railway seats. Based on the evaluation of the foam’s mechanical properties and interface pressure profiles, it was concluded that higher-density foam (80 kg/m³) is the most favorable. Regarding the foam cover, a thermographic assessment demonstrated that the fabric cover that induces lower temperatures at passenger interface contact promotes higher comfort levels. It should be highlighted that experiments were conducted on real train seat cushions and environments using a thermographic camera and pressure map sensor. Full article

This study investigates the applicability of eco-friendly silicone materials with improved flame retardancy as interior materials for Korean urban railway vehicles, focusing on developing nonslip pads for seats made of non-combustible materials. Fire safety standards vary worldwide, necessitating country-specific testing and analysis. For application to the interior of railway vehicles in Korea, technical standards for the flame-retardant performance of railway vehicles were evaluated, and nonslip pads for seats were tested by comparing two types of flame-retardant silicone. In addition to fire property testing on a specimen basis, experimental verification was performed on a full chair assembly including silicone pads. Passenger comfort testing through pressure measurements was also conducted alongside fire safety performance testing The actual fire test showed that the maximum average heat release rate value was about 20% lower than the standard’s upper limit. Using flame-retardant silicone pads enhances fire safety and passenger comfort, satisfactorily meeting the required performance standards for Korean railway vehicles. Full article

Railway wheels are usually attached to axles by press-fitting; therefore, the mechanical processes taking place during operation can result in failure, with fatal consequences for the axle seats. This manuscript describes the effect of laser hardening on the residual stress state, microstructural parameters (lattice defects—dislocations, crystallites, microstrains, etc.), and mechanical properties of laser-hardened EA1N steel railway axles under fatigue life conditions. Differences were found between ground, single-track, and multi-track hardened surfaces. Tensile residual stresses, low dislocation densities and hardnesses, and different microstructures (tempered cubic martensite) were found at the overlapped tracks and at the boundary of the heat-affected zone and bulk surface compared with the hardened zone. As a result, the surface treatment of axle seats by laser hardening improved the fatigue failure resistance compared with untreated seats. Optimal properties of the integrity of the axle seat surface were achieved, including fatigue resistance, which seems to be positively influenced mainly by sufficient hardness and the appropriate microstructure. The influence of the other investigated parameters was not evident, and was reduced by the presence of fretting corrosion and press-fitting. Full article

Unfixed-seat tickets are one of the supplementary forms of tickets used when the transport capacity of high-speed rail is insufficient; however, the needs of passengers with unfixed-seat tickets are often neglected. To understand the influence of unfixed-seat tickets on passengers’ perception of the quality of high-speed rail service, including their satisfaction, this study takes the provision of real-time crowding information (RTCI) as the independent variable and the satisfaction of passengers with unfixed-seat tickets with the quality of the high-speed rail service as the dependent variable, and adds social anxiety as a moderating variable, to construct a model. We conducted experiments and gathered data through questionnaires. The results showed that the implementation of RTCI has a significant impact on the satisfaction levels about high-speed railway service quality. In comparison to scenarios without RTCI or with RTCI failure, successful RTCI implementation can significantly enhance user satisfaction. Additionally, the moderating effect of social anxiety is significant. Perceived satisfaction did not significantly differ for individuals with low social anxiety in the absence of RTCI or in cases where RTCI failed; however, for individuals with high social anxiety, perceived satisfaction was significantly lower when RTCI failed compared to the No-RTCI condition. The potential practical implications of these findings are discussed. Full article

As a major load-bearing component of trains, the weld quality of the bogie beam is critical to the safety of railway operations. This study specifically investigates the inertia friction welding process of S355 bogie crosshead tubes, with the aim of improving the weld quality and achieving one-time formation of the crosshead tube and tube seat. The microstructural features and mechanical properties of S355 inertia-welded joints were also compared with the base metal. Research indicates that inertia friction welds have no visible defects, and that the microstructure of the welding seam (WS) consists of granular bainite, acicular ferrite and little pearlite. The thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) consists of granular bainite bands and ferrite + pearlite bands. The hot work strengthening mechanism of inertia friction welding results in a higher level of hardness for both WS and TMAZ. The tensile property of the welded joints can be compared to the base metal. The yield strength, tensile strength and elongation of the welded joints, respectively, reach 87.5%, 100% and 79.5% of S355. However, the impact toughness of the welds at room temperature is lower than that of the base material, particularly in the TMAZ zone. Conversely, in an environment with a temperature of −40 °C, WS’s impact toughness surpasses that of the parent material. Full article

Railways are one of the most widely used mass transportation systems. Its superior transportation capacity, low environmental impact, high safety, and comfort have been leading to a continuous increase in passengers. To keep this trend going, it is crucial to improve the railways’ attractiveness and comfort levels. A rail journey’s comfort performance is rather complex, involving the analysis of multiple factors. Those raised by the vehicle motion and seat performance are the focus of vehicle designers’ concerns. Therefore, only a combination of static and dynamic comfort methodologies can accurately characterize passengers’ comfort. This work aimed to perform a systematic review concerning the comfort evaluation of train passengers. The bibliographic search yielded 62 studies on static and dynamic comfort evaluation methods. Results show a lack of experiments conducted on real rail environments, leading to weak conclusions regarding the real in-service conditions that train users face. Moreover, an investigation gap concerning the simultaneous application of both static and dynamic methodologies was observed. Therefore, more investigations are needed to evaluate and increase passengers’ comfort and promote rail usage as a daily transportation system. Full article

There are many options for passengers choosing to travel by train. In order to maximize price revenue requests, railway companies must consider the differences between passenger types in the process of formulating ticket strategies. This study firstly subdivides passenger demand according to the latent class model based on Stated Preference (SP) and Revealed Preference (RP) survey data, then the passenger’s preference for train service attributes is identified. Based on the prospect theory, logit model and passenger flow transfer model, the final passenger flow assignment result is obtained. A differential pricing and seat allocation model aiming at maximizing price revenue is established, and a simulated annealing (SA) algorithm is designed to solve it. The results of the case show that the proposed model can increase revenue by 3.52% and by 1.02% compared with the result under single fares and without demand division. Full article