The article considers increasing the speed of freight delivery by rail using the existing capacity, infrastructure and resources. Possible options and technologies to speed up the delivery of freight are analyzed on the basis of experience of other countries. A mathematical solution to the optimization problem is proposed – achieving a certain level of service with minimal costs associated with the downtime of handling facilities. The purpose of the study is to determine to what extent such characteristics as transit time, queueing time for loading of goods, etc., can change during the transition from conventional freight transportation to high-speed one. Mathematical simulation methods were used to estimate the change in the characteristics of freight transportation when the speed increases. Freight transportation was considered as a mathematical queuing system (QS). Accordingly, the characteristics of two QSs with the same intensity of the order workflow and different intensities of the service workflow at a service are compared. That is, the characteristics of movement of freight trains in the transition from regular traffic to high-speed traffic are compared. The formulas proposed in the paper will allow to study the dependence of the number of freight trains and the downtime of handling facilities on the intensity of the service workflow, i.e. on the speed of movement. It will also allow to determine intensity of a service workflow which is necessary to achieve the given average time which an order stays in system, i.e. to find the speed of freight traffic required to achieve the given average trip time. Conducting this research will allow to conclude about advantages or disadvantages of transportation by high-speed freight trains in comparison with conventional freight trains and expediency of their introduction on certain sites.

No abstract

No abstract

Controlling friction and wear of rolling stock wheels and rails is a very urgent task for railway workers and scientists in many countries of the world, including Ukraine. The use of lubrication of the wheel-rail friction pair is rather a promising way to solve this problem, and the success of the solution depends significantly on the choice of an effective lubricant. The article considers the results of study of Locolub ECO and Tramlub F 234 MOD 2 greases, taking into account the prospects for their use in locomotive wheel flange lubricators that are operated in the Ukrainian railway. The results of laboratory and operational tests of these greases in comparison with the currently used Relsol lubricant are presented and analyzed. Quite high tribological characteristics of Locolub and Tramlub lubricants and their compliance with the operating conditions of rolling stock, wheel flange lubricators and track lubricators are noted. Based on the results of operational tests, recommendations are given on the prospects for the use of the studied lubricants in the Ukrainian railway transport.

Methods of loading gondola cars with bulk cargo are considered and possible types of non-uniform cargo distribution in the car bodies are established. The most common methods of levelling bulk cargo in gondola cars in the Ukrainian railway network are determined. Designs of equipment for mechanization of levelling bulk cargo in gondola cars are presented, their advantages and disadvantages are considered. Based on the given analysis, it is established that the most efficient way to ensure compliance with the current regulations on the placement of cargo in cars is the timely detection of non-compliance with these requirements at the stage of loading. The analysis of existing methods for determining the non-uniformity of cargo distribution in the car bodies was conducted. Based on this analysis, a new method for determining the nonuniform distribution of bulk cargo in the car bodies is proposed, which can be used to preestimate the compliance of the actual placement of bulk cargo in the car body with the requirements of current regulatory documents immediately after loading and take prompt measures to eliminate the identified inconsistencies.