The article describes approaches to the definition of functional safety in railway transport. The importance of compliance with requirements for functional safety in the context of widespread use of programmable controllers and microprocessor control systems is shown. Electric locomotive is considered from the point of functional safety, as well as its structural scheme which is used to carry out necessary checks. Main sources of threats for railway rolling stock were described, which include the malfunction of some component parts of the electric locomotive and external influences, including erroneous actions of locomotive crew. This article discusses the concept of risk of breaching safety requirements as well as demonstrates approach for assessing the level of risk, which involves quantitative and qualitative assessment of the probability and consequences of risk. Necessity of considering potential damage to human health, environmental damage and financial losses when performing risk assessment is shown. The article shows the necessity of determining safety features of railway rolling stock targeted to counteraction to external and internal threats. Methods of determining safety integrity levels for the various safety functions is demonstrated on the base of using risk graph, which takes into account the probability of a hazardous event and damage caused to them. Necessity of using different devices to achieve required safety integrity level is shown. Method for determining the actual safety integrity level of the safety contour based on the use of the “graph of safety” is shown and includes analysis of devices in this contour. This method allows determining the safety integrity level of the safety contour rolling stock on the basis of experience in the production and usage of devices of control and diagnosis. An example of compliance one of the safety functions of the electric locomotive to the requirements of functional safety is closely considered in the article. In the example is shown, what measures are possible to apply to increase the functional safety of the electric locomotive to meet the requirements for safety integrity level.

Questions to optimize track stiffness on concrete sleepers were constantly in the area of attention of domestic and foreign experts in the field of track facilities. To slow down the degradation of track (railway track on crushed stone ballast), it is essential to apply under-sleeper pads. Foreign experience shows that in all sections with installed pads there is a significant decrease in the rate of track deterioration, reduction of track settlement, correction of track stiffness, vibration reduction. In the context of growth of axle loads and load intensity in rail transport requirements for track superstructure become more demanding. In this regard, especially for freight routes abroad large assortment of under-sleeper pads is used. In 2014 studies on the effect of application of under-sleeper pads to track operation began at the Test Loop of JSC “VNIIZhT”. During track alignment in joint irregularities test samples of elastic under-sleeper pads of Russian production was laid in the test section. Pads were with different stiffness and thickness. At the moment, loads of more than 300 million gross tons were put on laid structures. It is shown that at the joints of test section abrasion degree of ballast becomes significantly less compared with conventional joints. Material for production of samples with different shape factor was selected on the basis of calculation of minimum rigidity of vibroisolating under-sleeper pads. Graphic test dependencies are shown, confirming the correctness of the calculation.

In modern conditions of loading of the existing railway system of the Russian Federation the tendency to concentrate traffic on the main routes, connected with production and conversion of raw materials, is clearly pronounced. Now more than 100 low-density lines (LDRL) with an operational length over 8000 km operate on railway tracks of common use of the country (more than 9 % of all network), operating expenses on them only on a third are covered by tariff revenue receipts from transportation. Maintaining low-active lines in infrastructure of JSC RZhD at the moment justifies the importance in the solution of key nation-wide tasks: social mission, defense capability and mobility of the country in emergency situations. Profitability of use of LDRL infrastructure is determined not only by requirements of social and economic development of the region of the country, but also depends on productive interaction of the railways, shippers and authorities of the territorial subject of the Russian Federation taking into account commercial interests of JSC RZhD. Feature of the approach offered in article is application of methods of the theory of active systems and use of the adaptive mechanism of activities which allow simulating and realizing a technique of reasonable use of infrastructure of low-density rail lines (LDRL) due to technological coordination of participants of transportation process. Technological coordination is intended for the operational analysis of accomplishment of plans of operational activities, their adjustment due to management decisions, reduction to mutual compliance of activities of participants of transportation process.

The influence of increasing energy consumption of center coupler draft gear on changing longitudinal forces during the motion of the train was studied. It was shown that the level of force is greatly reduced when equipping tank cars with draft gears of increased energy consumption (class T2 and T3). Article provides technique and results of train tests obtained during the run of the tank car train equipped with draft gears of T2 and T3 classes, and the same train in the same modes with draft gears of the T0 and T1 classes. On the basis of results of comparison tests not only qualitative, but also quantitative impact assessment of high class draft gears was performed on longitudinal dynamics of the train. The analysis of standards of American, European and Russian Railways in this field is provided, also confirming validity of the existing requirements to the draft gears of automatic couplers for cars of the 1520 mm gauge tracks. On the basis of performed complex of tests, including train and impact tests [1], a conclusion about a big positive effect of use of draft gears of high classes is confirmed.

Results of the loading study of support structures of bogies 18 - 100 with the presence of defects in the form of slides and uneven wheel wear on the rolling surface were shown. Research carried out by strain measurement. Strain gauges were installed in the area of spring and axle boxes openings of the side frames and bolster. Defects on the rolling surface formed at VNIKTI test site. Wheelset with defects rolls instead of the first wheelset in one of the bogies which was considered experimental. Stress levels are defined at values 1 and 3 mm for the sliders, 2 and 4 mm for uneven rolling. Trial runs were conducted during experimental train motion on direct track section, as well as on turnouts of 1/11 mark, when turning to a side track and in a curve of 600 m radius, at a speed range 30 to 100 km/h both forward and reverse. Stress levels in the most loaded areas of the side frame and bolster were set experimentally. It was shown that defects with limit-exceeding geometric parameters are a huge source of force loading of axle box openings of the side frames. The remaining areas of side frames and bolsters experience additional loading during dynamic impact interaction with the wheel defects and the rail, but the stress levels at these locations is 2 - 3 times lower than in the zone adjacent to the defective wheel. It was found that for the fatigue resistance of the side frames exploitation of cars with slides more than 3 mm is not allowed. During uncoupling of cars, when wheel with slides more than 3 mm is detected, it needs to carry out flaw detection of side frames by NDT methods.

The increase of passengers’ traffic volume and maintenance of stable positions on transport market are priority tasks for JSC FPC. Development of marketing shares and new offers for passengers’ service are based on studying regional features of demand and relevant state of transport services for different types of passenger traffics. System of calculating and analytical indicators for regional passenger traffic is presented in this article. It allows specialists in marketing tasks making researches of passenger flows tendencies, determining demand and price factor levels of transport services, obtaining scheme of correspondence dispersion across the region, making comparative analysis of JSC FPC internal passenger traffic in total amount of passenger traffic in the network. In practice this analytical information can be used to rationalize optimal passenger train length, to assess reasonability of putting into operation local trains, to define optimal stops quantity and to calculate necessities in fleet of passenger cars to satisfy demand.

The analysis of average distance of freight transportation of the largest railway systems of the world made in article - domestic and North American allows making the conclusion that increase of average distance of transportations has long-term character and is caused by the fundamental factors connected with regularities of economic growth. At the same time it is revealed that annual average rate of a surplus of average distance of freight transportation for both considered railway systems is very close and constitutes about 1 %. Growth of distance of transportations happened both in market conditions and in case of centralized state planned economy, during domination of a rail transport in freight transportation and in the conditions of active shift of part of freight flows to other transport modes (first of all pipeline and automobile). The new indicator is offered - “average distance of general movement of goods” which, unlike distance of transportation by a specific transport mode, will characterize movement of goods from the producer to the final consumer within a global exchange, end-to-end logistics of merchandising. The conclusion is drawn on that due to the goods delivery on a long distance effective interregional job specialization is provided, as well as specialization and cooperation of production, local monopolies are undermined and as a result efficiency of economy and welfare of people increases. At the same time in the conditions of considerable range of transportations technical and economic advantages reveal and high competitiveness of the railroads is provided.

The infrastructure undertakings of a rail transport and underground are interested in application of composite and switch sleepers. It is connected with the fact that insignificant service life of wooden sleepers and their low resistance to defects increase expenses on repairs and the current maintenance of railway track, especially in difficult operational conditions (the increased humidity, hostile environment, high loadings from vehicle units), and composite under-rail supports have considerably bigger operational resource. Results of research of composite sleepers which material is the polymeric matrix from the processed high-density polyethylene as a main component with glass-filled polymer are given. It is shown that the physical and mechanical characteristics, influencing on operational reliability and operability of composite sleepers of the processed high-density polyethylene as a main component with glass-filled polymer, are above than wooden sleepers have. Spheres of rational application of composite sleepers are offered. For example, on sites where laying of ferroconcrete sleepers is inexpedient, first of all, on the soil blister sites and sites with the weak subballast basis, and also when spacing “bushes” with defective wooden sleepers. On the basis of positive results of tests pilot sites with composite sleepers are put in the Moscow and St. Petersburg underground systems, and also recommendations for their pilot laying on a network of the railroads of JSC RZhD are developed.

JSC RZD throughout the last time actively realizes the program of energy saving. Specific power consumption of production activity from the moment of foundation of the company has decreased on 25 % generally due to improvement of electric supply systems. From the moment of the organization of the Central management office for heat and water supply in 2011 active implementation of actions in the stationary heat-and-power engineering, numbering more than two thousand heat sources and about 2000 km of heat networks, has begun. Power strategy of JSC RZD has defined implementation of automated block-type boiler and individual heating unit as the main actions. Available statistics of fuel consumption and heating energy shows that the cost of production of heat from its own sources is lower than acquired from outside. This demonstrates the need to develop its own heat sources, including those on the basis of combined heat and electric energy. The issues of development of industrial hubs needs to be necessarily linked to the development of systems of heat supply of human settlements by incorporating measures into the perspective plan of heat supply, as well as inclusion in the investment program of public utility companies. The analysis of the available plans of heat supply of several cities of Siberia and Far East shows that the boilers of the JSC “Russian Railways” described only in the first Chapter of perspective heating plans, and measures for their modernization are not taken into account in the development of cities. Lack of complex study of options development of heat sources with inclusion in investment programs leads systems of heat supply to decrease in efficiency, makes impossible to return investments due to its inclusion in fare rates for production of heat energy. Authors suggest organizing on the basis of the available structures of JSC RZD an expert group which will be engaged in collecting and processing input data, interacting with municipal authorities and regulating organizations for successful modernization of systems of heat supply from boiler units of JSC RZD. The list of the actions is offered, obligatory for consideration at drafting options of development of industrial hubs, taking into consideration specifics of its work. Results of calculations of implementing optional study of actions for one of heat sources of JSC RZD are shown.

The large base of support of catenary supports on railways sets urgent task to assess their condition and load capacity. Condition of catenary supports evaluated during operation. In addition to the existing supports on the railways there are new types, such as supports, manufactured using composite materials. To confirm their reliability and performance in terms of rail transport it is necessary to carry out complex tests. Tests are offered to perform in two stages: 1) bench tests to check mechanical properties and geometrical indicators; 2) accelerated life cycle testing. Accelerated life cycle tests are divided into bench and operational. For the bench accelerated tests a stand for vibration loading of racks of catenary supports is designed, which allows carrying out tests to determine resistance of supports to vertical vibration, resistance to relative creeping of racks. The stand has the ability to create static loading for racks of catenary supports up to 40 kN and dynamic loading up to 10 kN at a frequency of applying loads up to 5 Hz. Description and the scheme of the stand of vibration loading for racks of catenary supports are provided in article. Parameters of vibration loading are chosen. The technique of carrying out accelerated life cycle tests is offered. The technique of vibration loading is given. Bench tests of racks for catenary supports by the offered technique allow giving an assessment to a possibility of application of new types of supports in the conditions of railway operation.