The rapid expansion of high-speed railway (HSR) networks in Western China has increased the exposure of linear infrastructure to active faults. This study establishes and applies a probabilistic fault displacement hazard analysis (PFDHA) framework to quantify both on-fault surface rupture and distributed offfault permanent ground deformation (PGD) hazards for HSR crossings of the Xiaojiang Fault Zone (XJFZ).

A PFDHA framework is developed, integrating a Poissonian seismicity model with spatial rupture randomness. The methodology is applied to the XJFZ, which crosses the Nanning- Kunming (NK) and Shanghai-Kunming (SK) HSR. Permanent displacement hazards are evaluated for 2 probability levels: 10% and 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years.

Through the evaluation of displacement hazards for 50-year exceedance probabilities of 10% and 2%, this study finds that for the NK and SK HSR, permanent displacements at a 10% probability of exceedance range from 1.0 m to 2.9 m, peaking at fault intersections. Comparative analysis shows that traditional deterministic estimates (1.3–2.0 m) generally align with the probabilistic results but fail to capture the full range of risk.

This work adapts PFDHA to linear infrastructure in a tectonically active region of China, explicitly considering both on- and off-fault displacement within engineering-relevant corridors. The integration of regional rupture scaling and segment-based constraints provides a reproducible basis for displacement hazard assessment in HSR planning and retrofit.

Rail freight is widely recognized for its economic and environmental advantages, yet it remains weakly integrated into firms’ supply chains, particularly in emerging economies. This study aims to investigate the conditions under which rail freight can be effectively integrated into multi-actor supply chains, with specific attention to the role of organizational coordination, information quality and artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping logistics integration outcomes.

The study draws on a quantitative survey of 3,185 stakeholders involved in rail-based and multimodal supply chains in Morocco. The data are analyzed using a combination of machine learning, deep learning and artificial neural network models. These methods are used not only to identify the main determinants of rail freight integration but also to capture non-linear relationships, interaction effects and potential integration trajectories that cannot be addressed through conventional linear models.

The results show that rail freight integration depends primarily on organizational and informational mechanisms rather than on infrastructure alone. Inter-organizational coordination and logistics information quality emerge as the most influential factors. AI contributes positively to rail freight integration, but its effect is conditional: AI tools significantly enhance integration only when adequate levels of coordination and information sharing are already in place. Scenario simulations further reveal that the strongest integration gains arise from the combined improvement of organizational practices and AI adoption.

This research contributes to the literature by shifting the focus from infrastructure-centered explanations toward a systemic understanding of rail freight integration. It is among the first studies to empirically combine machine learning, deep learning and artificial neural networks to analyze logistics integration in an emerging-economy context and to show that AI functions as a complementary and amplifying mechanism rather than a standalone solution.

This paper presents an integrated technical and economic assessment of hot axle box detectors (HABD) and hot wheel detectors (HWD) important components of derailment prevention strategies, whose role extends beyond auxiliary monitoring to become cornerstones of derailment prevention and operational resilience. Building upon the International Union of Railways (UIC) Network Monitor Phases 1–3, the study synthesises international benchmarking evidence, cost–benefit analysis and operational practice to provide a coherent framework for decision-making, deployment and harmonisation.

The methodology combines three layers: (1) international benchmarking of national rules, detector spacing and alarm thresholds across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia; (2) a cost–benefit model based on avoided accidents, fatalities and disruption, tested through sensitivity analyses of detector density and false-alarm rates; and (3) operational doctrines covering alarm logic, reliability, availability, maintainability and safety requirements, operations control centre integration and lifecycle maintenance. The findings are aligned with European Union Agency for Railways guidance, UIC International Railway Solution (IRS) 70729 and lessons from Demonstration of Railway Infrastructure Reliability and Sustainable Railway projects.

Findings confirm that HABD/HWD systems provide significant safety and economic value when integrated into operational rulebooks, maintenance workflows and digital platforms. Multi-sensor and AIenabled detectors reduce false positives and enhance early detection, while international harmonisation efforts (e.g. IRS 70729 and EHMS) support cross-border interoperability. This study provides evidence-based guidance for risk-based deployment and lifecycle optimisation within modern railway safety frameworks.

This paper provides a comprehensive international synthesis that connects benchmarking, cost–benefit and operational safety frameworks into a structured doctrine for HABD/HWD deployment. It provides infrastructure managers and railway undertakings with evidence-based guidance on risk-based siting, lifecycle optimisation and international harmonisation. The work also contributes to the forthcoming UIC IRS, positioning HABD/HWD as globally relevant digital safety assets within the broader agenda of railway innovation, digitalisation and socio-economic resilience.

With the development of railway systems towards intelligence, informatization and networking, their architecture design becomes increasingly complex. Traditional safety analysis methods (such as failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), fault tree analysis (FTA) and event tree analysis) can no longer realise integrated safety analysis across disciplines, domains and life cycles amid requirement drift, architecture iteration and operational scenario evolution. This paper aims to introduce a systematic, integrated, model-driven safety analysis framework for the entire life cycle of railway systems to address these complex safety challenges and improve the overall safety level of railway systems.

First, the paper conducts a literature review of traditional railway safety analysis techniques and their applications, and analyzes the technical framework, core elements (modelling languages, methods, and tools), and advantages of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). Then, it studies the integration of MBSE and system safety analysis, focusing on typical international research cases (e.g., the Methodology for the Description and Safety Analysis of Interoperable Systems (MeDISIS), the European Train Control System (ETCS) safety verification project SafeSysE, and the Reference Architecture for Model-Based System and Software Engineering in the Railway Domain (RAMSAS), etc.) and domestic research progress, and summarizes the core idea of integrating MBSE with safety analysis in the design process. Finally, it explores the key technologies of MBSE-based railway system safety analysis, including automatic mapping of architecture models to Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), dynamic linkage between behaviour models and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), multi-model collaboration and dynamic update, as well as technologies in three aspects: safety requirement analysis driven by railway operational tasks, integrated safety-function design analysis, and simulation-based safety verification via train-fleet operation modelling. The development and validation platform Platform for Integrated Systems and Mechatronic Engineering (PRISME) and tools such as the Dependability Engineering and Innovation System (DEIS), Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) frameworks, and International Business Machines (IBM) engineering suites were also utilized to support this research.

The MBSE-based railway system safety analysis technique embeds safety activities into the forward-engineering workflow of MBSE-driven development, enabling concurrent safety and functional design. It solves the problems of model heterogeneity, data silos and process discontinuities in traditional safety analysis and realises end-to-end traceability and consistency from system requirements to safety analysis results. This technique not only provides a rigorous foundation for standardised, efficient and accurate safety assessment of railway systems but also offers technical support for early identification of potential safety issues, reduction of late-stage design changes and continuous optimisation of system safety performance.

The innovation of this paper mainly includes three aspects:(1) It breaks the limitations of traditional document-driven safety analysis methods, constructs an MBSE-based integrated safety analysis framework covering the entire life cycle of railway systems and turns safety work from an ad-hoc add-on into a systematic, goal-oriented activity. (2) It proposes key integration technologies such as automatic mapping of SysML-based architecture models to FTA, dynamic linkage between behaviour models (state machine diagram/activity diagram) and FMEA and multi-model (FTA/FMEA/hazard and operability analysis) collaborative dynamic update, which guarantee the consistency and traceability of safety analysis data and improve the efficiency of safety analysis iteration. (3) It develops a set of MBSE-based railway safety analysis implementation paths, including task-driven safety requirement decomposition, integrated safety function failure propagation modelling and train-fleet operation simulation-based verification, providing a practical technical solution for the safety design and analysis of complex railway systems.

The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of modal shift intention from road freight transport to rail freight in Morocco, focusing on the perceived economic, energy and environmental performance of rail freight.

A quantitative survey was conducted among key freight transport stakeholders, including road carriers, industrial shippers, logistics operators and experts. A total of 483 valid questionnaires were collected. Measurement scales were derived from the literature and adapted to the Moroccan context. Data were analyzed using SPSS through descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation tests and multiple linear regression.

The results indicate generally positive perceptions of rail freight, particularly regarding energy efficiency and environmental performance. All three perceived performance dimensions have a positive and significant effect on modal shift intention. Perceived energy performance emerges as the strongest predictor, followed by environmental impact, while economic performance shows a significant but more moderate influence. The model demonstrates strong explanatory power. Research limitations/implications – The study relies on perceptual data and a non-probabilistic sampling approach, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Future research could integrate objective cost, energy and emission data; apply longitudinal designs or extend the model by incorporating institutional, infrastructural and policy-related variables to further explain rail freight adoption. Practical implications – The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, rail operators and logistics managers by highlighting the key levers for promoting rail freight development. Strengthening rail energy efficiency, improving service reliability and enhancing intermodal integration can significantly increase stakeholders’ willingness to shift freight from road to rail. Social implications – By encouraging modal shift toward rail freight, the study supports broader societal objectives related to environmental protection, energy security and sustainable development. Increased use of rail freight can contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower road congestion and improved quality of life in urban and industrial areas.

This study provides one of the first empirical investigations of rail freight modal shift determinants in Morocco, offering an integrated analysis of economic, energy and environmental factors within a single conceptual framework.

To support the operational safety and lightning protection design of high-speed maglev railways, this paper quantitatively evaluates how suspension height and operating speed influence lightning susceptibility. It characterizes trends of the critical background electric field with respect to these two variables, tracks the evolution of surface hotspot distributions and identifies dominant attachment locations and their sensitivity.

A coupled procedure of “electrostatic field–aerodynamic flow field–scaled assessment” is proposed. The electrostatic model provides surface field-enhancement factors and their spatial distribution, while turbulent-flow simulations characterize near-wall density variations induced by speed. Under a unified leader height, a critical criterion based on a density-scaled breakdown field maps these two fields to a train-wise critical background electric field. Representative regions (nose, roof and bottom or tail) are used to build statistical metrics for hotspot migration and dominance with speed.

Increasing suspension height weakens electric-field coupling to ground, raises the critical background-field threshold and reduces the relative contribution of bottom and edge regions. At the same suspension height, a rigidly grounded train has a lower critical threshold than an electrically floating one. Within 0–500 km/h, the train-wise threshold decreases slowly with speed. Region-wise, roof-tail and bottom-mid sections show a decreasing trend with speed, while the nose stagnation point increases slightly; over the entire speed range, the dominant region remains the roof-tail section.

Within a unified framework, suspension height and operating speed affect lightning attraction through two distinct channels. Suspension height mainly modifies the threshold and hotspot distribution by changing geometric polarization, whereas speed alters discharge-initiation difficulty through aerodynamically induced density variations. The framework evaluates these effects separately and in combination, explaining the slow variation of the global threshold and the subtle evolution of hotspot locations and providing a physics-based reference for lightning protection design and operational safety assessment of high-speed maglev railway systems.

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the Brazilian freight railway system, examining the efficacy of the current concession renewal model in light of persistent structural problems such as market concentration, cargo dependence on export commodities and underutilization of the network. Situating Brazil within the broader international debate on railway reforms, the paper evaluates whether the ongoing early renewal of concessions can deliver a more diversified and competitive freight system.

The study adopts a sequential mixed-methods research design that integrates longitudinal quantitative analysis with qualitative institutional and policy evaluation. The quantitative component examines time-series indicators published by ANTT, DNIT and INFRA S.A. from 1999 to 2023 to identify structural patterns in traffic growth, investment, safety and market concentration. The qualitative component employs a process-tracing logic to reconstruct the evolution of concession renewals and the implementation of Railway Law 14.273/2021, drawing on concepts from regulatory economics, institutional theory and industrial organization. These empirical streams are synthesized through an analytical framework that connects three dimensions - regulatory design, market structure and system performance - allowing for a systematic assessment of how Brazil’s institutional configuration shapes incentives, competitive dynamics and network utilization.

The analysis confirms that the early renewal of concessions has successfully secured substantial private investment for capacity expansion on existing trunk lines. However, it has perpetuated the vertically integrated model, reinforcing the market power of incumbent operators and failing to significantly promote intramodal competition or cargo diversification. The system remains dominated by iron ore and agricultural commodities, with general cargo representing a minuscule share. The new authorization regime and short-line railway policies present a viable pathway for market opening but face significant operational and institutional barriers to implementation.

This research offers a timely and critical assessment of a pivotal moment in Brazilian railway policy. It moves beyond a simplistic evaluation of volume growth to a structural analysis of market failures and the interplay between concession renewal and regulatory innovation. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers in Brazil and other emerging economies seeking to balance private investment with public interest goals in railway infrastructure, highlighting the necessity of complementary, pro-competitive measures alongside financial investment.

With the deepening integration of rail transit systems–encompassing urban rail, regional railways, trunk lines and medium-low capacity transportation–the four-network integration imposes higher demands on operation and maintenance systems regarding cross-modal coordination, full-element interconnectivity and dynamic responsiveness.

This paper, based on policy directives and engineering practices, analyzes the operational maintenance characteristics of urban rail traction systems from perspectives including device interconnectivity and fault data mining. A non-intrusive high-frequency diagnostic device independent of vehicle control is proposed, informed by practical onboard operation experience. This innovation significantly enhances diagnostic accuracy for components requiring high sampling frequency, while integrating “Flash” storage with far greater capacity than conventional control chips.

This article will systematically introduces the key points and diagnostic methods for typical faults in urban rail traction systems. Through rational diagnostic algorithms combined with high-precision, high-storage diagnostic instrumentation, the overall safety and reliability of urban rail traction systems have been improved. The proposed non-intrusive high-frequency diagnostic solution has been validated across multiple rail lines.

This paper introduces an innovative non-intrusive diagnostic device with a dual-channel design for multi-system compatibility and a high-speed acquisition architecture enabling 400 kHz sampling. Its originality stems from the independent, high-fidelity capture of microsecond-level transient faults like IGBT shoot-through and pantograph arcing; Validated in operational environments, this approach provides a significant leap in diagnostic precision, directly enhancing traction system availability and operational safety by enabling precise fault localization and intelligent, adaptive protection strategies.

Interface management is the process of managing communications, responsibilities and coordination of project parties, phases or physical entities which are dependent on one another. Interface management is a crucial part of managing any construction project – but particularly important for high-speed railway projects that often have several contractual parties and stakeholders, very long project timelines and huge upfront cost overlays. This paper discusses how various project interfaces were managed during the design and construction of the civil engineering infrastructure for the High Speed Two (HS2) project in the United Kingdom.

The paper uses the case study methodology. Key interfaces on the HS2 project are grouped into various categories and the paper discusses how they were managed within the Area North Integrated Project Team (IPT) of the HS2 project made up of contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), the Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture (DJV) and client HS2 Ltd. 3 different case studies drawn from across the IPT are used, each of them highlighting different interfaces and how these interfaces were managed.

The paper shows how innovative technical designs and modern methods of construction were used to address some of the unique and peculiar challenges of designing a brand-new railway in the United Kingdom. Addressing the contrasting and often competing requirements of different stakeholders, coupled with challenging physical constraints of the very limited land available for the project and the use of a rarely used Act of Parliament in the delivery of the project required different approach to interface management. Collaboration and proactive stakeholder engagement are necessary for successful interface management on megaprojects. The authors posit that adopting an integrated approach to engineering and construction management is an essential ingredient for the successful delivery of high-speed railway projects.

With many high-speed railway projects around the world coming up in the next few years, understanding the context and challenges for each country will help engineering and design managers adopt appropriate approaches for their projects. The lessons learned on the HS2 project are also transferable to other mega infrastructure projects with complex project interfaces.

The utilization of alkali-free accelerators, primarily based on aluminum sulfate, in shotcrete often leads to significant shrinkage and cracking, jeopardizing long-term durability. This study aims to mitigate this issue by investigating the efficacy of silica fume (SF) and fly ash (FA), individually and combined, in controlling the shrinkage deformation of shotcrete.

Shotcrete mixtures were prepared with cement partially replaced by SF, FA, or their combination (SF-FA). Aluminum sulfate was used as an accelerator. The shrinkage behavior under sealed and dry conditions was monitored. The underlying mechanisms were elucidated through hardened airvoid analysis, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and internal humidity tracking.

Contrary to some previous studies, both individual and combined incorporation of mineral admixtures reduced the 28-day shrinkage. The SF-FA composite exhibited the most substantial reduction (23.72% sealed, 17.76% dry), followed by SF alone (18.11% sealed) and FA alone (11.35% sealed). Mechanism analysis revealed that the admixtures refined the pore structure, reduced the volume of harmful pores, and, crucially, optimized the air-void system by increasing the population of fine bubbles. This created an internal buffering effect that alleviates capillary stress. The synergistic effect in the SF-FA group is attributed to complementary pore-filling at dual scales.

This work demonstrates that, within an aluminum sulfate-accelerated shotcrete system, silica fume can effectively reduce shrinkage when its pore-refining effect is counterbalanced by a well-optimized micro-bubble network. It provides the first comprehensive evidence of the synergistic shrinkage-reducing mechanism of SF and FA in such systems, offering a practical strategy for mix design optimization to enhance the volume stability of shotcrete.