Railway systems

The latest publications in this offer are:

• May 10, 2026

  TRP3083

  Rail Freight Decarbonization: Innovations and Economic Assessment

  Per tonne transported, rail freight is the most energy-efficient mode of land transport, thanks to the low rolling resistance of steel-on-steel contact. However, on a global scale, nearly 75% of rail freight still relies on diesel traction. In the context of the climate emergency, this article provides a comprehensive overview of low-carbon alternative technologies applicable to rail freight: electrification, batteries, hydrogen, biofuels, and hybrid systems. It offers a rigorous techno-economic assessment based on total costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and impacts on public finances. The objective is to provide an analytical framework to support technological and policy choices towards a credible, realistic, and sustainable decarbonization pathway.

• February 13, 2026

  M3070 Reviewed

  Railways rails - Metallurgical aspects

  Railway transport is a worldwide basic means of transport: daily transport of people, long-distance transport and freight transport of all types and notably of ores in mining countries. Rails, whose aim is to carry the axles of trains and guide them in lines or curves are major safety elements for people and transported goods. This article describes the manufacturing processes and the main constraints rails are subjected to as well as the required monitoring in order to prevent derailment.

• February 13, 2026

  BM7781 Reviewed

  Thermite welding of railways rails

  Thermite welding is the final stage in the production of continuous long electrically welded rails. The process is easy to implement and requires little more than a qualified workforce. It allows for the temporary restoration of the service, which only slows down the traffic for a little while after its execution; which is an advantage when welding repair bars. The method consists in producing molten steel, formed by the chemical reaction between aluminum and iron oxide grains, cast between portions of rail set 25 millimeters apart and tight side molds made of refractory material. Once solidified, the ingot consolidates the two ends of the rails and unites them.

• January 12, 2026

  BM7780 Reviewed

  Electric flash butt welding of railways rails

  After manufacturing, rails from 25 to 110 meters are shipped by rail or boat to Flash Butt Welding Plants belonging generally to railroad companies. Electric welding allows for the manufacture of long welded rails (so-called "LWR") which, transported by special vehicles (generally trains) are laid down on the tracks, either in new portions or in long repair portions. These LWR are quite long elementary units (400 meters) which are then welded together by thermite welding. This article describes the principle of the electric process, its practical realization and a few imperfections inherent to the welding process.

• December 10, 2025

  TRP3081

  Tramway System

  Tram is a versatile urban transport solution, combining efficiency, sustainability and accessibility.This article generally discusses trams and their integration into cities. After a brief introduction, it presents the main types of vehicle architecture as well as the different systems interacting with the tramway network. The importance of the regulatory framework, which varies across different regions of the world and strongly influences design choices, is also highlighted. Finally, the article addresses the tramway as a key issue for sustainable mobility, a major challenge for the coming decades.

• March 10, 2025

  G7021

  Obsolescence in the rail industry

  This article is about the obsolescence in the rail industry. It will point out two of the main types of products when dealing with it: the electronic and mechanical parts. This article will take a look at the situation by giving a few examples, and giving a few solutions, more or less specific to these two fields, that are used to cope with obsolescence. This article will then discuss a solution that is being more and more used in the rail industry, because of the advantages it brings to solve obsolescence problems: the circular economy.

• October 10, 2024

  TRP3076

  Rail Mass Transit : a Specific Rail Operation

  Promoted since 2015 by SNCF Transilien, rail "Mass Transit" covers a specific operation, combining very high passenger flows and a high density of rail traffic. In MTF, flows of passengers dictate the running conditions of the trains, unlike other railway systems where the train schedules impose their rhythm on the behaviour of the passengers. This operation differs from metro by its specific technical constraints, as well as from traditional rail transport. It requires specialized trains, and specific service designs and stations). It needs appropriate infrastructure and timetable design methods.

• April 10, 2024

  TRP3084

  Hydrogen Traction System in Railway

  Hydrogen-based rail traction is a promising technology for the transport sector. The article discusses its use in the context of the energy transition, examines the characteristics of hydrogen, describes the hydrogen traction chain, including the roles of components, and discusses benefits such as reduced emissions and faster refueling. The limitations of this technology are also explored, and the article concludes by highlighting its importance in the transition to sustainable mobility.

• February 10, 2024

  TRP3080

  Tilting Trains: Principles, Performances, Applications and Perspectives

  The goal of tilting technology is to increase the speed of trains in curves and thus optimize the journey times of conventional lines. However, the system must be designed to have no impact on safety while ensuring a certain level of comfort for passengers. This article provides the basis principles of tilting and gives detail about the various configurations of tilting system embedded on Alstom products since the first Pendolinos. Faced with the development of Very High Speed throughout the world, the authors will give their vision of the market oftiltingtechnology.

• October 10, 2023

  AG8110

  Rail freight transport

  In order to address the main issues relating to rail freight transport, this article focuses on the situation in France and Europe, with a few significant international comparisons.A description of the major actors in the field is given, both at national and European level. The presentation of the constituent elements of rail freight transport, both infrastructure and rolling stock, as well as the presentation of the major technological developments underway, help to understand how this mode of transport can play an important role in the current fight against climate change.

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