In order to improve railway schedules, it is necessary to grasp railway passenger flow in detail. We have developed a method to estimate passenger flow based on origin and destination (OD) matrix data collected from ticket gates at hundreds of stations and thousands of train timetables. By analyzing the estimated results, it is possible to obtain the histograms of the number of passengers aboard each train for each destination, the number of passengers boarding and alighting at each station, and other relevant factors. Using the prototype system that we have developed based on this method showed that there was a strong correlation between the estimated number of passengers on board and the actual number reported by train conductors.

View full abstract

In order to detect equipment failures from measured values using equipment condition systems, it is necessary to establish an appropriate threshold. However, even when a threshold has been established, many cases have arisen where the equipment's installation environment was not given sufficient consideration and this has been one of the causes of erroneous detection. In this research, we examined a technique for failure detection without establishing a threshold. In addition, attempts were made to detect failures by statistical analysis, using one of the data-mining techniques, making use of switch data from an electric switch machine monitor.

View full abstract

We present a novel traveler support system designed for use by intermodal travelers who often inevitably have to collate information related to their journeys from different information sources and integrate them to make their travel decisions. We first provide a brief overview of an intermodal passenger support system called "CyberGuide," then propose an intelligent and just-in-time information retrieval agent that takes into consideration passengers' temporal and spatial contexts, and present a new architecture for information integration in which diverse information related to their journeys is supplied to travelers in a proactive but nonintrusive manner.

View full abstract

Psychological aptitude tests have been carried out on train operation staff in an attempt to improve safety. We searched for a test that would enable us to predict the human errors that are most likely to occur under current working conditions. First, we interviewed railway company experts to identify those errors. Next, we carried out personal computer experiments to simulate occurrences of these errors then applied 20 kinds of tests to 79 subjects. Consequently, we found a correlation between the error occurrence tendencies in the experiments and the actual test results. Based on these results, we have proposed effective tests according to the type of tasks undertaken.

View full abstract

This study was aimed at developing tasks corresponding to six types of human error, which cause serious railway accidents. Types of human error have been classified by a combination of two dimensions induced by a cognitive human error mechanism. One dimension is deficiency of attention, which includes distraction and saturation of attention factors, the other an activation failure of a procedural schema for action and decision, which includes inactivation of a correct procedural schema, an activated habitual incorrect schema, and activated efficient incorrect schema factors. A psychological task was configured for each of the five factors: a digit recitation task for distraction of attention; a vigilance task for saturation of attention; a prospective memory task for inactivation of correct procedural schema; a Stroop task for activated habitual incorrect schema; and another Stroop task after training involving naming a color as a congruent stimulus task for activated efficient incorrect schema. Six human error tasks were configured incorporating these subordinate tasks.

View full abstract

A new ride comfort simulator has been developed to improve passenger comfort on trains. The test example features a 12-seat passenger cabin mockup mounted on an electrically powered 6-axis motion base. Since the simulator's vibration, noise and temperature levels as well as its landscape scenery visuals can be independently controlled, the simulator contributes data to identify the influence on passenger comfort of each factor or plural factors. In this paper, we outline the simulator's special features and introduce four experiments: the combined effects of vibration and sound on passenger comfort; optimal strap and handrail positions on commuter trains; optimal table dimensions for PC users on express trains; and the postural balance of passengers walking through a moving train.

View full abstract

It is essential to reduce track maintenance costs and to extend the periodic replacements of continuous welded rails (CWRs) based on accumulated passing tonnage. In this study, we carried out fatigue tests on existing laid rails, and estimated the remaining service lives. At the same time, we developed a dynamic stress analysis model for welded joints with boltholes to calculate the stress under a range of track conditions. The model is composed of a beam model to calculate the dynamic wheel/rail contact forces and a solid model to estimate the stress field based on the forces. The remaining service lives of welded joints with boltholes were also estimated.

View full abstract

Based upon stress analysis that indicated that surface roughness causes higher contact pressure on contact surfaces, the question arises about whether the initial surface roughness formed by rail grinding may speed up the onset of rail rolling contact fatigue (RCF). In order to clarify whether initial surface roughness has an adverse effect on rail RCF, the authors carried out experiments by means of a twin-disc rolling contact machine and then investigated the experimental results from several perspectives, such as surface roughness, plastic flow, as well as the hardness and axis density of crystals beneath the rail surface. This paper describes the details of the experiments, the variation of roughness on contact surfaces that accompanies repeated rolling contact and the influence of the initial surface roughness on RCF.

View full abstract

Recently, ballastless tracks with cement grouted into ballast have been constructed on a full-scale construction operation. However, where roadbed constituents are of clay, roadbed soil outflow or even voids in the roadbed are likely to occur after heavy rainfall. In this study, the authors carried out tests with a full-scale ballastless track model laid on a saturated clayey roadbed. As a result, the defect mechanism of clayey roadbeds under ballastless tracks has been clarified. In addition, the authors have confirmed the improved effect of two countermeasures against roadbed failures by means of tests using the fullscale model.

View full abstract