The article is devoted to the study of technological processes at railway stations reproduced in a threedimensional model from the standpoint of assessing reliability of the development of those processes. The identifiable simulated and virtual processes are matched against specific comparative positions. The benchmark is a fixed set of technological series of operations for processing wagon flows of all categories at a particular railway station.

To provide adequacy of model reconstruction to the prototype, the emerging waiting time and downtime of rolling stock are considered, which are introduced into the model as special split states of main spatial locations of rolling stock. The concept of «paraphysical structures» is introduced into the developed model of the station, which comprises any conditions impossible according to physical canons and irrational according to technological requirements regarding the objects of track development and rolling stock. The logic of program control over similar states of modelled structures is based on the analysis of the allowed positions of station objects when performing reference technological operations. Slowdown in station operations can be a forerunner to waiting or downtime.

An important methodological basis for the technique for developing a dynamic model of a station includes formation of a system of internal program analysis of the current situation, recognition of the moment of occurrence of a paraphysical situation and its anticipation by transforming it into normally developing standard situation. The adapting module of the information prototyping environment should be an intelligent agent with developed ability of generating exceptional situations based on comparative tests conducted by it, of developing an appropriate knowledge base and of using it in the process of further operations without any external users’ participation.

The objective of the study, described in the article, is associated with dev elopment of general requirements for a dynamic model of a railway station, functioning adequately to a real technical system due to assessment of reliability of reproduced station technological processes.

The article discusses the problems of using data mining in a transport model as a digital platform for analysing data on traffic flows in a megapolis, and prerequisites for creation in future of single data banks and an integrated environment for interaction of models of different levels as clusters of the digital economy, which will consider all modes of transport to assess transport demand and develop projects for organizing traffic in a megapolis.

The objective of the work is to study the processes of obtaining quantitative characteristics of objects of transport modelling when creating a single electronic environment by calculating the derived parameters of the transport network of a megapolis. Quantitative spatial characteristics of an object are associated with calculating the distance from a city centre and a main street and are determined using geographic information systems entailing consequent problem of data unification and efficient data storage.

As part of achieving that objective, it is shown that it is necessary to create a preprocessing and validation procedure for all primary transport data, since data sources have different formats and spatial interpolation of tracking data. For this, it is recommended to use various methods of data analysis based on GIS technologies, digital terrain modelling, topology of the road network and other objects of the transport network of a megapolis. Besides, the use of intelligent data should be preceded by formatting and grouping the source data in real time. The most common errors arise at the stage of the iterative process for obtaining quantitative characteristics of objects of transport modelling and building the optimal route in terms of travel time along a certain transport network.

The existing trends of urban growth require global digitalization of all transport infrastructure objects, considering changes in the functions of the transport environment and in intensity of traffic flows. Theis entails further development and implementation of new information technologies for data processing using neural networks and other digital technologies.

The regulations regarding railways currently in force in Bulgaria require that each new type of locomotive, to get access to railway infrastructure, must undergo a procedure for checking its electromagnetic effect on functioning of track circuits.

The relevant testing was carried out for seven types of AC and DC track circuits and for six types of locomotives intended to be put into operation (five electric locomotives and a diesel locomotive).

Schematic diagrams of testing conditions are presented. During the tests the voltage waveform, frequency, and level rates at the terminals of the track receiver (on the track relay coil) were recorded for a free (normal (common) mode) and occupied (shunt mode) track circuit during the action of return traction current of electric locomotives, as well as during the action of impacts caused by operation of electrical equipment located in the body and under the frame of the diesel locomotive.

For electric locomotives, the tests were carried out during the shunting of track circuits (of a tested one and of the track circuit adjacent to it), starting from the rest, lowering and raising pantographs. For a diesel locomotive, tests were carried out in a stationary mode, when inner wheelsets shunted the insulating joints of two adjacent track circuits and for different cases of arrangement of the equipment of the relay and receiver ends. During the tests, the state of the armature and contacts of track relays was monitored. The amplitude of the recorded interference was compared with voltage of reliable switching off/ on of track relays/track receivers. It was found that during the shunt mode, the recorded residual voltage in the track receiver under the action of the electric locomotive was 50 or more times lower than the reliable operate voltage and 33 or more times lower than the reliable drop-out voltage of the receiver. For a diesel locomotive, the results turned out to be similar, except for the case of shorter DC track circuits, where the amplitude of the interference was higher, but without a dangerous effect on the shunt mode.

Based on the results of the tests, it was established that all types of track circuits used on the railways of Bulgaria are resistant to electromagnetic interference emanating from tested samples of traction rolling stock. 

Currently, the methods of monitoring the technical condition of locomotives using data of on-board microprocessor-based control systems are widely used. This monitoring of Russia has become an operating technology of the locomotive maintenance and repair system.

The main problem of monitoring is the limited set of sensors in locomotive circuits. Increased number of sensors leads to a decrease in reliability and to an increase in the cost of a locomotive and of its life cycle, while allowing to achieve better quality of diagnostic information.

Besides, it is advisable to have integrated indicators of the technical condition of a locomotive. The article presents a computer software product for analysing the technical condition of a locomotive based on dynamic data on consumption of traction active power and generation of reactive power. The software was developed by using algorithmic language Visual BASIC for Applications, embedded in MS Excel, using probabilistic and statistical methods of analysis.

The method for diagnosing the technical condition of a locomotive within the monitoring system is based on a comparison of dynamics of consumption of active and generation of reactive power by two sections of the same locomotive according to the principle of functional benchmarking. For monitoring the technical condition of locomotives, the term «pre-failure» is suggested, which is defined as the operable condition of a locomotive while there are internal hidden defects or damage. Pre-failure manifests itself in power consumption. To analyse the technical condition of AC electric locomotives in terms of electricity consumption, the initial data must have a high degree of unimodality, which is determined by uniformity of operating conditions.

The resulting data obtained following the analysis of the technical condition of a locomotive based on the dynamic data on consumption of tractive active energy and generation of reactive power can be used to determine a defect that causes a change in consumption of electricity at the moment when the locomotive enters technical maintenance and repair depot. *Information about the authors: Semenov, Alexander P. – Ph.D. (Eng), General Director of JSC Research Institute of Technology, Control and Diagnostics of Railway Transport, Omsk, Russia, corp@niitkd.ru. Semchenko, Victor V. – Ph.D. (Eng), General Director of JSC Railroad Centre of Technology Implementation of Krasnoyarsk Railway, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, office@dcv.ru. Khromov, Igor Yu. – Business Analyst of LLC2050-Integrator, Moscow, Russia, KhromovIYu@yandex.ru. Article received 13.05.2020, accepted 23.10.2020. For the original Russian text of the article please see p. 62. 

The theoretical prerequisites for construction of road overbridges of car lift type for crossing railways by automotive vehicles are suggested. A technical solution has been proposed that makes it possible to ensure the crossing by cars of «problem» railway crossings during periods of their long-term closure for road traffic. The same solution can be used to organise a road overbridge in other locations where there is no railway crossing. The technical solution itself is based on the use of overhead road overpasses and is a «simplified» version of the solution implemented by Elon Musk and his company in Los Angeles based on a tunnel, moving platforms and freight elevators. For development of car lift type road overbridges, computational methods of theoretical mechanics, technical diagnostics and monitoring, as well as the theory of queuing should be used to estimate the number of cars passed through it when crossings are closed. It is proposed that the structures of the overbridge should be «built-in» into the landscape, equipped with alternative sources of energy supply and technical means of control, diagnostics and monitoring of rolling stock and of location of direct intersection of automobile and railway roads (an intelligent monitoring zone). The proposed promising technical solution in the form of a road overbridge makes it possible to increase comfort of road transportation and improve traffic safety at level crossings.

Currently, digitalization, being implemented in all spheres of human activity, including transport processes, requires efficiency in obtaining and processing information, as well as timeliness of decisions made on its basis. The modern system of operation of railway traction rolling stock is characterized by the lack of online information about the current technical condition and the residual life of its components for decision making.

The article proposes to solv e the problem by implementing an adaptive system for remote online monitoring of technical parameters of operated objects into the field of traction rolling stock operation. The adaptive system contains software related to recommendation decision support systems. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of elements of artificial intelligence, which self-learns by combinatorial processing of the historical database on operation of this or a similar technical object and current performance indicators corresponding to them.

The proposed information processing algorithm is versatile and, in principle, can work with a variety of data sources, including existing traction rolling stock safety devices. Online monitoring of technical parameters of operated objects can be extended to both cargo-passenger rolling stock and related auxiliary machinery and devices (track machines, cranes, hump retarders, etc.). Based on the analysis of the information received, the software generates and transmits recommendations regarding current urgent actions for managing staff and maintenance personnel.

In addition, the proposed technology makes it possible to predict indicators of accidents at operated objects in real time, providing an opportunity to facilitate the diagnostic process, optimize organisation of maintenance, reduce the cost of maintaining rolling stock, and increase safety of the transportation process.

The adaptive system of remote online monitoring of operational safety of technical objects, considered in the article, through a risk-based approach, is a unique development that has no analogues. 

The article considers organisation of transportation services for passengers with public transport followed by their quality assessment in conformity with the requirements of the social standard. The objective of the article is to determine quality of passenger transportation by a municipal passenger enterprise with buses of large and medium capacity and by individual entrepreneurs carrying out transportation with minibuses. The article uses reporting materials on transportation of passengers by municipal and private carriers. To achieve the purpose, quality indicators of passenger transportation by public transport were calculated using the methodology of the social standard approved by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation. The number of points for each indicator defined by the social standard for municipal carriers and individual entrepreneurs is determined, the results of relevant calculations are presented. The analysis of quality of passenger transportation services provided by municipal and private carriers was carried out. The quantitative characteristics of quality indicators values made it possible to determine the current state of passenger transportation services, identify shortcomings and make a forecast for improving quality of services. To improve quality of passenger transportation services, measures were proposed for bodies responsible for transportation and carriers.

During the pandemic, the competition for the consumer has moved from the format of live communication to the plane of remote interaction in the global environment. The sphere of cargo transportation makes no exception for that, since a highly competitive market is characterized by the presence of many transport and logistics companies that to struggle for a client actively use remote technologies, the leading place among which belongs to the company’s website. From a marketing standpoint, the website is recognized as one of the leading sales tools. Freight carriers that base their activities on the principles of customer focus give priority attention to quality of their own website, and therefore development of a methodology for its assessment, which is the purpose of this study, is of relevance.

The website of a leading company was chosen as the object of the study, while the section of the website dedicated to providing service for transportation of groupage cargo under contracts with individual shippers was its subject.

The article proposes the author’s method of assessing quality of the website of freight carriers from the standpoint of customer focus. The methodology is based on the author’s system of general and special criteria describing quality of the website and assessed according to a 100-point scale of values and a tenpoint scale of significance for a respondent. The assessment method is an open survey of consumers in the Global Network. The developed methodology is universal and can be used by any cargo carrier to improve quality of transport services.

Within the framework of the methodology suggested in the article, it is possible to diagnose, based on customers’ opinions, the «bottlenecks» of the section of a company’s website devoted to providing the service. Reducing customers’ comments regarding the points awarded allowed the author to identify the reasons for lower ratings and to propose reasonable measures to update corporate website to improve quality of transport services.

When developing projects for introduction of electric buses into operation and determining the required infrastructure, it is necessary to justify the concept and methodological approaches to choosing of routes, to estimate the number of charging stations, depending on their type, and to conduct economic assessment of the proposed solutions in specific operating conditions.

The article discusses the main issues of organising operation of buses with electric traction (electric buses) on the routes of public urban surface transport. A primary analysis of both current and prospective electric bus routes was carried out regarding the city of Moscow.

Adaptive calculation methods are proposed based on classical methods for determining the required number of vehicles for a route regarding a given transit capacity, passenger traffic flow, and a given traffic interval.

The current and prospective schemes for location of charging stations are considered, a method for determining their required number is proposed.

A methodological approach of determining direct costs associated with transportation has been adapted to operation of electric buses on the route.

Any Olympiad is one of the most significant forms of development of human cognitive activity. Mathematical Olympiads for schoolchildren have been held in our country for several decades. Such a «long life» of the Olympiad movement speaks of importance of this form. The article discusses the main stages of formation and development of mathematical Olympiads. A brief overview of emergence of the olympic movement in Russia and other countries is given. A special place is given to the experience of holding such Olympiads within the walls of Russian University of Transport, where mathematical Olympiads have been held since 2000. Therefore, the current year can be considered an anniversary year. The article presents some forms of work with schoolchildren that preceded the emergence of mathematical Olympiads within the University. The importance of such work, which is aimed at developing interest in engineering education and a deeper study of mathematics, is discussed.

The article is devoted to clarification of the structure of maintenance of low-intensity railways by optimising infrastructure maintenance operational personnel using the example of Mikunsky infrastructure section of the Northern Infrastructure Directorate of Russian Railways. As an example of the distance for operation of infrastructure, the article considers Berlin section of infrastructure of German railways. The task of organising the activities of the infrastructure linear enterprise of the track complex, including track section workers (PC), signalling, centralisation and blocking (SCB) maintenance section personnel working within enlarged teams and emergency repairs teams equipped with service trains and KamAZ vehicles, is considered. For the analysis of information uncertainty, an information model is proposed, for which the risk is considered in the form of determining losses. At the stage of preliminary calculations, a change in the number of maintenance personnel will make it possible to obtain a reduction in operating costs.

A short review is devoted to the history of the bridges and other means of crossing rivers by transport vehicles in St. Petersburg. The line of electric tram laid directly on the ice of the frozen river is among most uncommon engineering solutions.

The publication reproduces with some abridgement but keeping as far as possible author’s lexical means and style the report of I. V. Shirman at the meeting of the 8th Department of Imperial Russian Technical Society on March 4, 1910, chaired by O. A. Struve. The meeting discussed engineering and economic issues of operation of transport vehicles using electric traction and the most promising at that time, the idea of autonomously powered passenger systems was also highlighted.

LevinD. Yu. S. Yu. Witte– railwayman, an outstanding statesman [S. Yu. Witte– zheleznodorozhnik, vydayushchiisya gosudarstvenniy deyatel]. Moscow, Railway training and methodological centre, 2020, 376 p. ISBN 978-5- 907206-02-1.

Books about the «outstanding railway man No. 1» are published quite often, especially since 2019 that marked his 170th birthday. The personality of Sergey Yulievich Witte has always attracted connoisseurs and lovers of Russian history. Dmitry Levin’s new book «S. Yu. Witte – railwayman, an outstanding statesman» [S. Yu. Witte – zheleznodorozhnik, vydayushchiisya gosudarstvenniy deyatel’] is about him, a reformer who began his career on the railway. The author of the first Charter of Railways, the creator of the theory of tariffs, the initiator of the reform of construction and operation of railways, the acting head of construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, who became a politician, statesman, diplomat, financier – this is a small part of what Witte had managed to do for the country