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RAILWAY OPERATIONS EXPERTISE PROJECTS
Commuter Train Operations SimulationsAgence métropolitaine de transport (AMT), Canada
AMT was planning on making two important changes to the commuter train service operating on the Canadian Pacific (CP) rail line. CANARAIL was mandated to evaluate the impacts of these changes. The first change was moving the storage and light maintenance activities of the commuter trains from CP's Glen yard to the Sortin yard and the second was the addition of a new commuter service to Mascouche. CANARAIL used the Railsim software to evaluate the impacts of these two changes. Schedules for different configurations were analysed. Their robustness was evaluated by simulating signalling, track and train incidents. Level crossing closure times were also estimated with Railsim. Based on results of these simulations, recommendations, aimed at improving the robustness of the operation were made regarding schedules, routing to be adopted to reach the new Sortin yard and improvements to signalling and track.
Railway Operations StudyAluminpro Inc., Cameroun
CANARAIL assumed the following responsibilities: evaluation of cost per tonne for transporting the alumina and the refinery operation materials; definition of railway operations plan and fleet size; analysis of infrastructure investment for new and existing tracks; estimation of other capital costs such as land acquisition, rolling stock and maintenance shops; sensitivity analysis on the price of fuel and increase of permitted axle load.
Railway Capacity StudySociété Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM), Mauritania
CANARAIL established a diagnosis of the current railway operation in order to identify potential improvements. This entailed an assessment of the operating plan and methods of the rolling stock fleet and of the infrastructure. CANARAIL's specialists elaborated strategies that would allow doubling the annual tonnage transported at the lowest cost, taking into consideration safety and reliability. These strategies encompassed improvements to infrastructure, rolling stock and operations. Tariffs for the haulage of minerals for a third party were also elaborated.
Railway Capacity AnalysisCompañía Carbones Del Cesar S.A., Colombia
Compagnia Carbones del Cesar S.A. (Carbones), operates a coal mine, but must ship all of its production by truck to ports located 250 km away from the mine. A narrow gauge railway runs parallel to the mine, but it's operating to full capacity; its access is controlled by the region's major producer which ships approximately 25 million tons per year. Carbones called upon CANARAIL to evaluate various solutions to increase the line's capacity: increase of axle load, reconstruction of track to run on standard gauge, addition of a spur line, and double-tracking. The infrastructure costs were evaluated for each option; requirements associated to rolling stock based on annual tonnage and cycle times were also estimated. CANARAIL also represented Carbones during discussions with the current railway user about the specifications of rolling stock to be bought.
Expansion StudyVAMI RUSAL, Guinea
CANARAIL carried out a bankable feasibility study to analyze the cost and strategy to expand the capacity of the Conakry to FRIA rail line from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes per year. The scope of the project undertaken included the following activities: detailed inspection of track and bridges, signalling and telecommunications, train control systems of the railway and railway workshops; review of railway operations with a view to improving the operating parameters of the railway; overall operational review of the railway; development of an operational model to evaluate capacity including train cycle time and a simple simulation of the railway operations; development of capital investment costs and development of an implementation plan and schedule.
