A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Framework for the Evaluation of Train Control Information Systems, the Case of ERTMS

Abstract

The huge potential o®ered by the implementation of a modern Train Control Information System (TCIS) could result in signi¯cant improvements in the railway sector in general. As a technology transfer, primarily in the European railway sector, the European Rail Tra±c Management System (ERTMS) is expected to play an important role in providing better railway performances. However, the implementation of ERTMS entails certain dilemmas and disadvantages and the decision-making regarding it can be one of the crucial challenges for each railway. Having this in mind, the aim of this work is to propose a decision-making framework to support such a critical decision process through application of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analyses. In the proposed approach, external and internal factors that simultaneously enhance and constrain ERTMS implementation were identi¯ed and presented through the SWOT analysis, while the AHP method was applied for the evaluation of the importance of identi¯ed factors. The thorough literature review represents a basis for creating a SWOT matrix and setting of judgments for the evaluation of the SWOT factors. The results of the AHP method highlight the importance of the factors within the SWOT matrix regarding ERTMS implementation. Results of the AHP method were checked by two additional weight assessments in order to provide the appropriate approach for factor evaluation. The proposed approach also shows a relatively simple and very suitable decision-making framework for consideration of other TCISs, too.

Stochastic Linear Quadratic Optimal Control of Speed and Position of Multiple Trains on a Single-Track Line

“…The trains could pass each other at those stations while traversal times of the trains on the blocks between the stations only depended on the block lengths but not on the trains. In [18], the authors proposed a decision-making framework to support a critical decision process by developing a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis based on external and internal factors that simultaneously enhance and constrain the ERTMS implementation. In this paper, we propose an approach that could be used in RCCS's to control speeds among trains on a single-track line, under safe situations, that is when moving blocks are however securely separated.…”

“…the cost function of the control, minimizing the acceleration changes. For each train, the system evolves according to the linear dynamics given by (18) and it is subject to the stochastic constraints ( 12), (13), and ( 14). In addition, another set of constraints is added to limit the variation of acceleration.…”

“…Problem P p Consider a train platoon subject to the dynamics given for each train by (18), linearized around a planned working state and control at instant t p . The problem P p is to find the closed loop optimal control δδ f p (k) function of the state as shown in ( 22)…”

AHP-SMART Method as Evaluation Decision Support for Employee Promotion

“…Each criterion will be compared from one criterion to another to find out how important the criteria are compared (Liang & Peng, 2017), by assessing through instrumentation in the form of a questionnaire using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. By following the AHP stage, the Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) concept will be used (Aziz et al, 2016), (Krmac & Djordjevii, 2019). This concept will carry out a number of iterations whose function is to minimize the difference in the results decided to find a certain point that is able to eliminate the final difference between the eigenvector values and the previous eigenvector values (Saaty, 2010).…”