A simulation-based life cycle cost model for track form selection-implementation

Abstract

This work presents the implementation details of a simulation-based model proposed in an earlier work by the authors where no implementation was covered. This model aims to support the railway industry in their decision-making on selecting the most cost-effective track form for a particular application by comparing life cycle costs of the available options. It is based on degradation conditions or life time distributions of track components and pre-set thresholds for initiating various maintenance actions on these track components. Major maintenance actions on major track components are considered for both ballasted track and ballastless track. Data obtained under various application contexts are sourced from the literature and the industry, complemented by manufactured data when no information is found. Data from miscellaneous sources are considered not an issue for the purpose of this study which is to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. By calculating the number of required maintenance actions first and the maintenance costs for ballasted and ballastless tracks afterwards, the work proves that the proposed model has achieved its intended function. Trials of the model on actual data from local rail industry are still underway. With these trails, performance of the model to support actual track form selection decisionmaking for a specific application will be further tested.