Developing sustainable rail networks – resilient, efficient, and feasible
We combine infrastructure planning, operational concepts and technology to form a coherent vision
How should a rail network develop in order to reconcile future demand, policy objectives and operational realities? We support infrastructure operators, government departments and transport authorities in making informed decisions on network expansion, digitalisation and operational concepts.
Many investment and strategic decisions fail not because of the idea itself, but because of a lack of consistency:
- Infrastructure is designed to accommodate a single timetable concept – and subsequently proves to be too small or too expensive
- The impact of ETCS, ATO or new operational concepts on capacity remains unclear
- Interactions within the network are not taken into account
- Political objectives (transport transition) are not underpinned by realistic operational concepts
The result is high levels of investment, some of which have only a limited impact on capacity and quality. We approach network development consistently from an operational perspective and bring together all the relevant aspects:
- Timetables and transport services
- Rolling stock and dynamic performance characteristics
- Signalling and safety systems (e.g. ETCS, ATO)
- Processes at infrastructure managers and rail transport operators
This integrated approach is crucial, as a network’s performance is only realised through the interplay of all factors. To this end, we provide:
- Strategic visions and network designs
- Development of long-term targets for infrastructure and operations
- Development of realistic timetable concepts and service strategies
- Assessment of expansion and new construction projects
- Quantification of the impact on capacity and quality
- Identification of bottlenecks and critical network elements
- Technology and digitalisation strategies
- Assessment of ETCS, ATO and TMS within the overall system
- Identification of specific benefits in terms of capacity and operational quality
- Resilience and robustness
- Designing infrastructure with capacity to cope with uncertainties
- Taking into account disruptions and changing conditions
For example, we address the following questions:
- How many trains can a network actually handle in its target state?
- Where will bottlenecks arise as demand grows?
- Which measures will yield the greatest increase in capacity?
- How should infrastructure be designed to ensure that future production concepts can be implemented reliably?
This enables our clients to:
- Make well-informed investment decisions (rather than relying on assumptions)
- Avoid mis-sizing in infrastructure projects
- Gain transparency regarding capacity impacts across the entire network
- Align strategy with operational feasibility
Our methods range from network-wide analyses to specific infrastructure and operational concepts and enable the assessment of complex interactions within the rail system.