High-speed rail systems - what are the technological options and challenges? (steel-wheel?, Maglev?...)

rightbottomJohn Madu (UG)Newcastle University00John Madu (UG)Newcastle UniversitylefttopStudy ProjectHigh-speed rail sytems00Study ProjectHigh-speed rail sytemscentercenter9410095400 Table of Contents 1 Abstract 2 Introduction 2.1. Background on the Growth of High-Speed Rails 2.2. Steel Wheel Versus Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) 1 Speed, Costs, Reliability 1 Steel Wheel 2 Maglev 1 Thesis Statement 1 Steel Wheel High-Speed Rail 3.1. Infrastructure Requirements 3.2. Dedicated Tracks, Electrification, Signaling 2 Train Technologies and Key Examples 3 Top Speed and Commercial Operating Speed 4 Reliability and Safety Record 5 Cost of Infrastructure and Rolling Stock 6 Advantages 7 Limitations 2 Maglev High-Speed Rail 4.1. Principles of Maglev and Propulsion 4.2. Low-Speed Versus High-Speed Maglev Types 4.3. Engineering Challenges 4.4. Advantages 4.5. Limitations 5. Comparison and Evaluation 6. Conclusion 7. References High-Speed Rail Systems Given Name Surname dept. name of organization (of Affiliation) name of organization (of Affiliation) City, Country email address or ORCID Abstract— This paper investigates the performance, uses, advantages, and limitations of steel wheels and magnetic levitation (maglev) high-speed rails (HSRs). While steel wheel HSR is well-established due to its speed, safety, and cost-efficiency, it is less flexible. In contrast, maglev HSR is known for its exceptional performance. This paper illuminates the proper choice of technology by comparing the two systems. Keywords—Steel wheel, Maglev * INTRODUCTION * Background on the Growth of High-Speed Rails The metamorphosis of HSR throughout time was evident since the 19th century Industrial Revolution when the "Rocket" locomotive was launched in 1829 with a speed of 100km/h, which increased to 200 km/h in 1850. Consequently, Modern HSR was established in 1964 with Japan's Tokaido Shinkansen at a 210 km/h speed. Europe’s Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) was launched between 1964 and 1981. After this, HSR expanded globally, particularly in China [1]. * Steel Wheel Versus Maglev Steel-wheel is a conventional railway system where the trains are equipped with steel wheels and operate on tracks, relying on friction. It is adaptable and cost-effective but is limited by energy losses secondary to friction and consistent maintenance of worn-out wheels [2]. In contrast, Maglev has high technology, for it eliminates the reliance on friction and shifts to using magnetic force for levitation and propulsion. This innovation results in several advantages, including significantly higher speeds, reduced energy consumption, minimal wear and tear, and a quieter, smoother ride due to the absence of friction with tracks [3], [4], [5], [6]. * Speed, Costs, Reliability 1 Steel wheel Steel wheel-rail systems have excellent safety records but with the speed limits. An example is the InterCity 125 of the United Kingdom, which can travel as fast as 125mph [7]. The cost of steel wheels varies per country and on whether the materials are imported or exported. An India's railways ministry official has revealed that the country currently incurs a substantial expense in importing approximately 70,000 wheels at approximately Rs. 70,000 per wheel. These imports predominantly originate from European countries, including Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, and Germany [8]. The reliability of steel wheels in high-speed trains is paramount and intricately linked to the country's diverse terrain. For instance, in China, the extensive and varied geography and regional differences in environmental conditions present unique challenges for these wheels. China's expansive inland territories, diverse climates, lengthy rail routes, low temperatures, corrosive surroundings, and potential sand-related damage collectively create a demanding operational environment [9]. 2 Maglev Maglev trains exceed 300 miles per hour, surpassing conventional wheel-on-rail trains. They outpace current high-speed rail systems by roughly 50% [10]. The costs of maglev vary in every country. In one U.S. project named the Northeast Maglev, a privately held firm connected with the Central Japan Railway Company has proposed the construction of a high-speed SCMaglev rail line from Washington, DC, to New York City. The capital costs range from $10 billion to $13 billion, equivalent to $285 million to $370 million per mile [10]. The dependability of maglev technology within railway systems is underpinned by the limited physical interaction between the train and the track, resulting in reduced mechanical wear and enhanced durability. Moreover, it can operate in poor weather conditions, making it an efficient alternative to steel wheels [11]. * Thesis Statement Steel-wheel technology is safe, cost-effective, and adaptable but with speed limitations and high maintenance demands, making it suitable for short-distance urban traveling. In contrast, Maglev technology is suitable for long-distance traveling as it offers a high-speed solution and reduces maintenance demands. * STEEL WHEEL HIGH-SPEED RAIL * Infrastructure Requirements Figure 1. Overhead Catenary System. Adapted from [36]. The infrastructure requirements for steel wheel HSR include a dedicated electrified track network with specialized catenary systems. This is essential for electric propulsion and adequate acceleration and deceleration systems while minimizing sharp turns and steep inclines [12], [13]. Moreover, advanced signaling systems comprise signals, switches, and communication infrastructure for precise control and coordination [14]. Additionally, maintenance facilities are vital, and these must be positioned in strategic inspection points along the rail networks to perform inspections and repairs and monitor track conditions, power systems, and train components. Lastly, advanced technologies (i.e., cameras and sensors) provide real-time data on track conditions, weather, and train performance, allowing prompt solutions to potential issues [15]. * Dedicated Tracks, Electrification, Signaling Dedicated tracks serve as the fundamental infrastructure of a railway network. These cover robust steel rails, fastenings, sleepers, and turnouts, which are necessary to operate the train across extensive distances and ensure alignment. Utilizing high-quality steel for the rails is vital as it is crucial in load distribution to avoid undue deformation and damage and maintenance of the track alignment [16]. The overhead electrification system comprises the overhead catenary system (OLE), characterized by wires spanning above the tracks, typically supported by durable steel or aluminum masts. This is divided into sections with overlapping areas where the contact wire switches laterally. The contact wire carries the electrical power needed to operate the train's pantograph, and a supporting wire from above, called the catenary or messenger wire, is necessary to maintain the position of the contact wire via increased tension. Pantographs are designed to collect the power from OLE to enable the electric train's operation, and these are secured by cantilevers and registration arms [16], [17]. The signaling system constitutes an integral component of railway safety and operational efficiency. Rails are instrumental in conveying critical signals about obstacles or the presence of trains on the track. A conceptual framework, wherein wheel axles facilitate the short-circuiting of signal voltage between the two rails, underpins the safety system's ability to detect the presence of a train within a particular track section. The signaling apparatus encompasses various components, including block signals, traffic lights, and centralized control systems, all communicating vital information to train operators. Signals convey when it is safe for a train to proceed, halt, or decelerate, thereby contributing to the safety of passengers and the seamless operation of the railway network [16], [17]. * Train Technologies and Key Examples Figure 2. French Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV). Adapted from [37]. Figure 3. Japan Shinkansen Lines. Adapted from [38]. The French TGV and the Japanese Shinkansen embody two pioneering high-speed railway technologies. The TGV, distinguished by its streamlined design and advanced aerodynamics, relies on conventional steel tracks with dedicated high-speed lines, employing distributed power sources [18]. Conversely, the Shinkansen, colloquially known as the "Bullet Train," employs a dedicated track system with continuous electrification facilitated by overhead catenary wires, facilitating the attainment of remarkable speeds [19]. * Top Speed and Commercial Operating Speed The speed of steel wheel high-speed rails varies on certain conditions, such as the environment, materials used, and brand. The top speeds of some of the high-speed railways are as follows: China Railway (CR) Fuxing reaches 420 kilometers/hour in testing; French TGV set a record at 574.8 kilometers/hour; Japanese Shinkansen operates at a top speed of 320 km/h and Frecciarossa 1000 (ETR1000) achieved 389 kilometers/hour during testing [20]. For the commercial operating speed of some steel wheel trains worldwide, the CR400 "Fuxing" trains achieve an impressive commercial top speed of 350 kilometers per hour (equivalent to 217 miles per hour). Another example is the French TGV’s commercial operating speed of 150 meters per second, almost twice the standard maximum speed [21]. * Reliability and Safety Record The reliability and safety of high-speed rail systems employing steel wheel technology rely on several critical factors. These factors encompass operational conditions, which are an essential component of the asset management system. Operational conditions encompass a diverse range of parameters, including local forces at the wheel/rail contact point, forces causing rail bending affecting the entire rail cross-section, both global and local thermal loads, and residual stresses originating from the manufacturing and operation processes, and geometric considerations, spanning from track geometry at a global level to the specifics of wheel and rail profiles at local levels, as well a...