Capacity analysis

Contact

Alex Landex

Alex Landex

T: +45 5161 1183
Jukka Pekka

Jukka-Pekka Pitkänen

Global Division Director, Smart Mobility
T: +358 40 738 4190

In many countries, rail systems need to accommodate increasing volumes of trains and passengers. The optimisation of network capacity is therefore a prerequisite for efficient, reliable and punctual train services.

Railway capacity analysis plays an integral role in planning and optimising railway services as well as enabling problems to be readily identified and rail capacity to be managed effectively. Within this area, Ramboll assists rail operators and infrastructure managers and has helped create new operational models and plans for various operational scenarios. In our projects we work closely with train operating companies and other operators in the rail industry, including universities, research institutes, and other consultancies.

Drawing on advanced tools and technical expertise

Ramboll has extensive experience in train scheduling and railway simulation studies in the Nordic countries. We employ state-of-the-art tools that can assist our experts in providing detailed information and insights into the quality of existing and/or planned timetables. We approach every project with a view to delivering our customers with innovative and professional expertise that is tailored to their individual project demands. In addition, we draw on a variety of advanced methods, from simulation to sophisticated analytical models, which we combine as appropriate to meet the specific challenges of each project and to provide best value for our customers. We are also actively involved in developing new tools and processes for both infrastructure managers and railway operators.

Our competencies within capacity analysis include:

  • Scheduling and comparison of different timetable structures
  • Analysis of passenger service levels
  • Optimisation of platform and station track usage
  • Simulation of railway networks, stabling yards, and station areas
  • Capacity consumption calculations using the UIC 406 method
  • Capacity and bottleneck analysis
  • Support for capacity allocation including development of new tools and processes
  • Optimising rolling stock and staff usage
  • Optimising maintenance and depot usage
  • Optimisation of traffic control operations
  • Disturbance management
  • Running time calculations
  • Analysis of capacity consumption and evaluation of operator’s annual capacity requests mobilising

Projects

Light rail

Light rail as enabler for urban development

The future light rail connection along the ring road ‘Ring 3’ just west of Copenhagen not only promotes a more coherent city infrastructure. It also has the potential to become a powerful enabler for urban growth and development.

Oslo S

Directing of tracks into Oslo S

The Norwegian Rail Administration (JBV) selected Ramboll for the task to make analyses of the capacity of a future Oslo Central Station (Oslo S), having new lines from different directions into the station. This was a simulation of a future situation with, among other features, a completed Follo line (from south-west, designed by Rambøll) and totally four tracks in tunnel (only two today) from the west into Oslo S.

Train tracks near Helsinki Central Station

Feasibility study of the Helsinki Central Railway Station

Ramboll's unique use of indicator-derived evaluation tools confirmed the feasibility of using innovative techniques to identify functional solutions to existing operational and scheduling challenges of Finland’s busiest and most important railway yard.

Train wagons at station

Development vision for rail services in Southern Finland (ESSI)

Railway traffic in southern Finland has been handled earlier in system level reports and more specifically divided subject-specific reports.  There is a need to specify railway traffic as a whole, as well as requirements for infrastructure investment with respect to traffic characteristics (increased traffic, demand forecasts and land usage). ESSI is a visioning exercise for future rail demands in southern Finland.

Operational and strategic guidebook for disturbances

Disruptions in railway operations due to weather, infrastructure failures, or other unexpected incidents must be anticipated by railway operators. Reaction and reporting procedures are important to consistent and reliable oeprations; however, communications to passengers have not necessarily been a priority in many systems.

Expert rail services for development of the LIIKE system

The LIIKE system is used to control track capacity in an environment consisting of several railway companies. Ramboll has been participating in the development of the system since 2006.

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Ramboll

Ramboll
First Floor, Emerald Building
Oud Metha Road
PO Box 116921, Dubai, UAE
Tel:+971 4 334 3616
Fax:+971 4 334 3617

Mail: info@ramboll.ae

Other sites

Other sites