The critical points on the rail and road network are their intersections, i.e., level crossings. During a train crossing, car traffic is stopped. This reduces the fluidity of traffic on the road and, consequently, can cause congestion. The problem increases with the number of cars and trains. Frequently, due to national regulations, level crossing closure times are long. It is mainly dictated by safety issues. Building two-level intersections is not always a good solution, mainly because of the high cost of implementation. In the article, the authors proposed the use of sensors to reduce level crossing closure times and improve the Level of Service on the road network. The analyzed railroad lines are local agglomeration lines, mainly due to safety (low speed of commuter trains) and high impact on the road network. The sensors proposed in the article are based on radar/LIDAR. Formulas similar to HCM methods are proposed, which can be implemented in a railroad crossing controller. Simulations using the PTV Vissim program are carried out and the results are worked out based on the obtained data. The considered method can reduce the level crossing closure time by 68.6%, thereby increasing the Level of Service on roads near railroads.
The railway is one of the most energy-efficient modes of transport, helping to enhance the environment and public health in cities and agglomerations. In this paper, the authors raise the issue of the construction of an underground railway route in Wrocław (Poland) to allow the organization of the suburban rail system in the agglomeration. There are many concepts for the construction of this route, but so far none has been realized. Therefore, it is important to design the route properly. Here, five options for this tunnel are considered and evaluated. To make such an evaluation, the authors construct a modified ant colony optimization algorithm (ACO). The “classic” algorithm considers the determination of the shortest route. The modification of the algorithm will allow a more accurate analysis of the issue, taking into account more parameters than just the length of the route. These are the location of traffic generators in the city center, the number of inhabitants neighboring the stations, and the number of tram or bus lines integrated with the railway. The presented method and exemplary case study should allow for the evaluation, introduction, or development of the city railway.
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