We built three simulation models that can assist rail transit planners and operators to evaluate high and low probability rail-centered hazard events that could lead to serious consequences for rail-centered networks and their surrounding regions. Our key objective is to provide these models to users who, through planning with these models, can prevent events or more effectively react to them. ...

Problems with Existing Optimization Approaches Traditional optimization software employs a linear decisionmaking process whereby a single solution is reached. Traditional optimization techniques generally seek a single solution, such as maximizing profit or reducing cost. Each change in the environment (e.g., train delays or equipment fault) triggers the optimization system to start again from ...

Since the investigation of wear particles in rail transport started in late-1910s, the high mass concentration of these particles has raised worries among researchers concerned with air quality. However, effective action has yet to be taken because of lack of relevant knowledge. This thesis provides applicable information for the airborne wear particles in rail transport. Some aspects of their ...

A framework for assessing the usage and level-of-service of rail access facilities is presented. It consists of two parts. A dynamic demand estimator allows to obtain time-dependent origin-destination flows within pedestrian facilities. Using that demand, a traffic assignment model describes the propagation of pedestrians through the station, providing an estimate of prevalent traffic condition...

Urban rail transit brings huge economic and social benefits to the society, however, the event of accidents and breakdown of subway can cause a wide range of traffic impact, significant personal and economic losses and even cause traffic paralysis. Current domestic emergency dispatch and command model is basically "man-based", therefore the validity and effectiveness of emergency scheduling dec...

This paper introduces a discrete event simulation for crew assignments and crew movements as a result of train traffic, labor rules, government regulations and optional crew schedules. The software is part of a schedule development system, FRCOS (Freight Rail Crew Optimization System), that was co-developed by Canadian National (CN) Rail and Circadian Technologies, Inc. The simulation allows ve...

Long term demand for rail freight transportation in North America is projected to increase considerably in the coming decades. Additionally, government agencies want to increase the speed and frequency of passenger trains operating on certain freight lines, further adding to demand for new capacity. A significant portion of the routes in the United States are single track with passing sidings. ...

Recently, the number of studies involving complex network applications in transportation has increased steadily as scholars from various fields analyze traffic networks. Nonetheless, research on rail network growth is relatively rare. This research examines the evolution of the Public Urban Rail Transit Networks of Kuala Lumpur (PURTNoKL) based on complex network theory and covers both the topo...