Railway Infrastructure Course Chapter 1 General Overview
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ScribdTranslationsRailway Infrastructure Course Chapter 1 General Overview
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ScribdTranslationsCHAPTER I: Generalities
CHAPTER I: General Information on Rail Transport
Benefits of rail transport (Train, Metro, Tramway).
1 Introduction
We generally refer to it as Railway Infrastructure (or railways)
tracks equipped with rails, on which trains pulled by locomotives circulate.
Railways can also be defined as a public service created to meet needs.
of the public and industrial structures. It is a guided collective transport system of
people and goods. It is an alternative to the car, to trucks and to
congestion at the gates of large urban areas. It allows for efficient travel and
remains the dominant mode of land transport in several countries.
The railway includes the subway, the tramway, and the railway track.
2 Generality
Invention
Their invention dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, but already, before this time, one
had used the reduction of rolling resistance that adorns metal surfaces. We
first use flat rails with a flange, then cantilever rails, and the traction was done
either by means of horses or by means of fixed machines.
It was in 1811 that George Stephenson, engineer of the coal mines of Killingworth, built the
first locomotive for the service of these mines but it is only in 1829 that following
of a competition opened by the administrators of the Liverpool to Manchester railway,
Stephenson produced and had adopted for the operation of this line the famous Rocket, which is
the mother of current locomotives. It weighed four tons, could haul on the level a
load of 13 tons at a speed of 22 kilometers and reach a speed of 45 km/h without load,
which was considerable for that time.
3 Interest in rail transport
3.1 Advantages of rail transport
Rail transport is a safe, environmentally friendly, and comfortable mode of transportation to be favored.
in his daily and occasional movements.
The train is much more energy-efficient.
For kilometers transported, the railway consumes two to three times less fuel.
to the ton transported by a heavy truck.
The metal-on-metal contact limits the rolling resistance to a low value which
also allows for towing heavy loads with power and personnel
often reduced to a man. In return, this metal on metal contact
increases braking distances.
The railway is a guided transport that offers vehicles only one degree of
freedom forward or backward. Lane changes can only be made at 1
switches, overtaking is impossible. This constitutes a safety measure regarding the
Railway Infrastructure Course 2017-2018 A. NEHAOUA
CHAPTER I: Generalities
accidents.
Train transport also emits very little greenhouse gas. It shows a
low level of pollution
Rail transport can be faster than other modes of transport.
It allows for meeting delivery deadlines since its schedules are punctual.
The traffic capacity of a railway line is greater than that of a 4-lane highway.
The average cost per kilometer of a double-track railway is cheaper than that
of a dual carriageway under the same conditions.
A reliable transport of goods. When comparing rail traffic with others
we discover that rail traffic is undoubtedly the most
sure. A security that results from the decrease in the number of accidents, and obviously from the
losses that may result from it
3.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of road, rail and
maritime
3.2.1 Advantages of each mode of transport
Road Transport Rail Transport Maritime Transport
Direct means of transport Large volumes Large volumes
Less handling Competitive prices Competitive prices
Flexibility Low polluting Low polluting
Door-to-door Alternative to the road Alternative to the road
Shorter transit times benefiting from measures benefiting from measures
political and legal political and legal
incentives incentives
Suitable for long ones Suitable for long ones
distances distances
3.2.2 Disadvantages of each mode of transport
Road Transport Rail Transport Maritime Transport
Restriction on the times of Handling needs and Handling needs and
driving power outages power outages
- Saturation of infrastructures - Dependence on the Dependence on the
Polluting means of transport route for the final part of route for the final part of the
- Not recommended for the transport transport
long distances Not very flexible (not "door- Not very flexible (not 'door-
Increase of to-door to-door
legal restrictions Limited infrastructures and Limited infrastructures and
Less competitive prices heterogeneous in Europe heterogeneous in Europe
Longer transit times Longer transit times
Higher damage rates 2
Source ECG 2001
Railway Infrastructure Course 2017-2018 Teacher: A. NEHAOUA
CHAPTER I: Generalities
3.3 Current situation in Algeria
The current and future railway network consists of three sets of lines.
the Northern bypass via normal (Eastern border/ Annaba/ Constantine/ Algiers/ Oran/
Tlemcen / Western border) which constitutes the main artery of exchanges between the
currently the most developed regions of the country, lines of connection,
also on standard gauge, connecting the bypass to the main ports and various cities
(Guelma, Skikda, Béjaia, Tizi-Ouzou, Mostaganem, Arzew, Ain-Temouchent,
Ghazaouet, Jijel...
the mining line is standard gauge Annaba/Djebel-Onk whose activity is
essentially related to the transport of iron ore to the Annaba area
d'Ouenza - Bou-Khadra and the phosphates of Djebel - Onk.
penetration lines towards the Highlands and the South:
El-Gourzi/Touggourt, on standard gauge; Blida/Djelfa; Relizane/Tiaret and
Mohammadia/Béchar, narrow gauge.
It consists of:
A linear of main lines in operation of: 4,266 Km
-3 606Km of main line in Normal track
-660 Km on Narrow Gauge
Length of electrified lines: 386.3 KM
Suburb of Algiers
Eastern Mining Line
3.4 INSTITUTIONAL STAKEHOLDERS:
The project management of railway sector projects is ensured by the National Agency.
of studies and construction of railway infrastructures (ANESRIF). The management and
the operation of the entire railway network is entrusted, under the concession regime, to
the National Railway Transport Company (SNTF).