Rail Institute drives railway freight charges
Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:04:00 GMT
Researchers make an impact on the costs of operating railway freight vehicles
The research team at the University of Huddersfield’s Institute of Railway Research (IRR) are making an impact on the costs of operating railway freight vehicles. A research project initiated by Network Rail (NR) and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) will see techniques developed by the IRR used to inform the levels of track access charges paid to NR by freight vehicles operating in the UK.
The industry funded research project employs mathematical modelling of freight vehicle dynamics to determine levels of track damage due to a vehicle’s dynamic ride forces. By developing a ride force counting metric (RFC) and collaborating with NR economists, the IRR proceeded to generate a cost model and software program called RFCpro. This tool allows vehicle manufactures and operators to readily calculate levels of track access charges for their new vehicles.
Project leader Dr Paul Allen, (pictured) Assistant Director of the IRR explains: “With freight vehicle operating costs being directly influenced by the research output, this has been a technically and politically challenging piece of work, involving many keenly interested industry stakeholders”.
Following recent formal approval by the ORR, the system went live in November 2012 and will form the basis of the freight vehicle charging regime for the next five years.
Asked whether the research would lead to a new breed of track friendly freight vehicles, Dr Allen stated: “The idea behind these advanced charging regimes is to promote novel technologies and it is hoped that this work will encourage innovation in the freight sector”.
The IRR team is also working on related EU Framework 7 projects to develop novel freight vehicles across Europe. With more on that to follow!
