There is proposed method to select rational design version of weld-fabricated bogie frame brackets of locomotives and railway cars. The selection is performed in accord with the outcomes of double-phase computation-based stress analysis in the welded joints. At the first stage general stressed state of a bogie frame as a whole is examined by applying finite-element method. At the second stage special features of 3D stress distribution within the individual bracket are studied in detail using boundary-element method with due regard for factors of geometric concentration of stresses within the potential welding defects zones. Loading conditions of bogie frame fragment with a bracket simulated on the individual basis are very close to those of its loading while within the frame. They are selected according to the results of stresses examination in the frame carried out with use of its comprehensive model. Comparative analysis of bracket design versions is performed by varying form, dimensions and location of welded joints and type of edge preparation. Geometry of connected details may also be varied. The design version may be added with some details. In all the simulation cases there ought to be identical loading and fixing conditions as well as modeling techniques applied to brackets, welds and stress concentrators. There is assessed effect exerted on stresses by one factor only, specifically design version of an assembly under consideration. Efficiency of the proposed method may be exemplified by selection of rational design version for weld-fabricated axle-box links bracket of electric locomotive bogie frame. The method is made use of in refining a design of weld-fabricated bogie frames of electric locomotives.

The paper tackles functioning aspects of elastomeric center-coupler draft gears. For the time being such draft gears are the only shock absorbers responsible for safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials and high-value car-goes. The predecessor research works dealing with force pattern intrinsic to impact and compression failed to present the clean-cut description of pressure field structure within the draft gear chambers, thus making difficult mathematical modeling of such a complicated device. The authors of the described research managed to fill the indicated gap through use of up-to-date high-quality sensors capable of tracing pressure values up to 300 MPa. The center-coupler draft gear EPA-110 with crucial component in the form of double-chamber plunger assembly with a partition piston group was selected as a full-scale object of research. There are presented outcomes produced by experimental research and computations of the pressure values in the draft gear chambers in terms of different patterns of orifice holes used for quasi-static and dynamic testing. Also there are introduced new dependences to be used in calculations of force acting upon the draft gear and are provided rec-ommendations concerning introduction of amendments to the draft gear design and modification of its mathematical model.

Two main railway track design versions may be observed on the JSC RZD network. They are jointed track and con-tinuous welded rail track of temperature strained type. For the time being JSC RZD is well on the way from predictive track maintenance pattern to the pattern implying actual track condition analysis based planning of the quantities of maintenance work and respective expenditures. The key feature of such an approach lies in the necessity to determine indices characterizing tack design version as a system ensuring safety of railway traffic operations. In the present paper there is proposed failure probability assessment algorithm based on the thermal track buckling emergence criterion. It has been confirmed that the existing standards ensure the required operational safety level of a track design version in the context of the indicated criterion.

Low wear resistance in the friction pair friction wedge - friction plate proves to be the key reason for insufficient operational workability of the wedge-type shock absorber of a freight car bogie swing suspension. The authors come up with the problem solution consisting in application of new materials for the indicated friction pair, specifically grade ChMN-35M alloyed iron for friction wedge and grade 25Kh steel for friction plate. To assess wear resistance of the selected materials there was conducted JSC VNIIZhT based research and testing campaign comprising comparative testing of material samples on the friction and wear machine MI-1 (Amsler tests), full-scale tests of friction wedges and plates on the type TsDM 200 Pu testing rig and tests of friction wedges and plates in trial runs over the experimental loop track. Outcomes analysis of the rig tests and trial runs campaign with sample parts fabricated of the indicated materials al-lowed to prove their higher wear resistance as compared with mass production parts in terms of ensuring the required service life of the wedge-type shock absorber. Comparative outcomes analysis of the experiments conducted to assess wear resistance of the selected friction pairs demonstrates that with the specified service life indice performance of rig tests only is just enough to determine the amount of contacting surfaces wear of the examined materials and to arrive at a preliminary decision on the materials to be used for friction parts of the freight car bogie wedge-type shock absorber.

Railway network-wide introduction of Automated System for Resource and Risk Management and Reliability Analysis at the Life Cycle Phases (AS URRAN) allows for life cycle planning of infrastructure facilities based on esti-mation of their actual condition by reliability indices with due account for possible risks. To support the URRAN con-cept there were put into execution several maintenance standards STO JSC RZD, containing general safety and risk re-quirements relative to railway transport. The paper tackles the improvement aspects of the AS URRAN operation in the context of track switching facilities. There are recommended development and upgrading patterns of the AS URRAN to be listed as follows: • Bringing AS URRAN employed terminology in the part of reliability indices to conformity with the characterized parameters; • Change-over from reliability indices of the “reference turnouts” to the same of real ones with allowances made for their actual operating conditions data. Designing in capabilities of by-type failure analysis of technical means to be performed in accord with “Qualifier of Objects and Failure Causes of Technical Means” employed by the Comprehensive Automated System for Accounting and Restoration Control of Failures and Reliability Analysis of Technical Means (KAS ANT) and with due regard for pro-visions of “Qualifier of Turnout Components Defects and Damage”.

Dedicated high-speed railway lines (HSL) intended for train operation at speeds up to 350 - 400 kph represent in-novative tool capable to improve railway transport competitiveness within the served territories. The paper tackles logical choice aspects of the passenger traffic flow influencing factors on a new HSL. In this context analysis algorithm of passenger flow influencing factors across all the transport modes serving the route specified in the new HSL project may prove to be one of the factor defining solutions. There was conducted comprehensive socio-economic analysis of factors related to the HSL route. Also there were developed management proposals of socio-economic factors influencing determination and predic-tion of the HSL passenger flow. These proposals were formulated with due regard for each factor influence on the pas-senger flow across all the transport modes serving the new HSL route on the specific territory.

The paper presents development/comprehension tests outcomes of locomotive wheel tyre prototypes of grade ‘H’ medium alloy steel. These high-strength and high crack resistance tyres are intended for use with series 2EC10, 2EC7 and 2EC6 new generation freight electric locomotives with asynchronous traction drive. The work under discussion was carried out by the JSC VNIIZhT experts in cooperation with JSC “EVRAZ NTMK”. It covered the development of wheel tyre production specifications including those related to chemical content and mechanical properties of steel, appraisal of the tyre heat treatment conditions, manufacturing of tyre prototypes as well as laboratory and rig testing aimed to assess the tyre property package. Wheel tyre prototypes of grade “H” steel were subject to laboratory and rig tests at the JSC VNIIZhT experimental facilities inclusive of analysis of working layer mechanical properties and of hardness/microstructure distribution over the cross-section, assessment of cold resistance, determination of the tyre static fracture toughness (crack resistance) K1С and damping capacity (tenacity) Kfc, as well as analysis of the tyre stress state. Based on the positive results of the initial and acceptance tests of the grade ‘H’ steel tyres pilot run there was adopted the decision on the under-control operation of the tyres with the series 2EC10 electric locomotives on the Sverdlovskaya Railway network.

There were developed phases of market researches aimed to substantiate introduction of train consists with fixed composition. These phases may be listed as follows: • Study and prediction of traffic demand • Analysis of competitive landscape • Definition of the infrastructure capacity • Analysis of the passenger car fleet potential • Comprehensive analysis of the traffic services. Market researches are focused on definition of those transport market segments where it may be recommended to introduce trains with fixed train consist pattern. Information analysis provisions for the conducted market researches are based on the MIS Express capabilities. The system database allowed for real-time determining of traffic demand characteristics, rolling stock performance indices and dynamics of traffic volume irregularity. This information covers the need of comprehensive market researches in the baseline data on the demand fluctuations at the traffic services market and on rolling stock utilization on various railway routes.

Classical procedure prescribes to examine mechanical systems motion in non-inertial reference frames moving in relation to stationary inertial frame. In the present paper there is proposed method to examine forced oscillations of railway vehicles caused by curved track irregularities in plane and profile in inertial reference system, allowing for much-simplified setting up a problem and reduced computation time while making assessment of vehicle dynamics, its components loading and wear indices of a wheel/rail friction pair without loss of accuracy. Object of examination is represented with four-axle vehicle described by a set of non-linear differential equations. There are given computation results as exemplified by such vehicle movement in curves with different radii.

The paper tackles the identification aspect of transport infrastructure effect evidences on social sphere and economic development of the regions. The Republic of Sakha Yakutia was selected as an object of investigation. General approach and hypothesis employed by the investigation base on the thesis that transport infrastructure may be considered about as a prosperity factor attracting economic and non-economic benefits to a region and appearing for important determinant of socio-economic growth and rise in the living standards of its population. It has been shown that transport as economical system component has the potential of a powerful drive of social development contributing to increase in regional product and exchange of commodities and as a consequence to more efficient product specialization, wider spreading of innovative technologies, lower prices and higher quality of goods, higher benefits for their manufacturers and consumers, higher national wealth, higher levels of all sort of production and business activities, more efficient wildlands development, more efficient integration of new resources into economic turnover, other socio-economic benefits in the context of population living standards, its territorial mobility and human relations.