Open AccessSYSTEMIC EFFICIENCY: A KEY CONSIDERATION IN THE DESIGN OF NEW DEDICATED RAIL FREIGHT PROJECTS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
Author(s) -
Friedel Mulke,
Jan H. Havenga,
Joubert van Eeden
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
south african journal of industrial engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.225
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 2224-7890
pISSN - 1012-277X
DOI - 10.7166/32-3-2635
Subject(s) - train , tariff , fuel efficiency , track (disk drive) , stock (firearms) , engineering , process (computing) , key (lock) , transport engineering , automotive engineering , manufacturing engineering , computer science , mechanical engineering , economics , cartography , international trade , geography , operating system , computer security
Crafting systemic engineering fundamentals into a structured design model that includes demand definition, systemic design, and efficient operations enables the railway design process to achieve viable solutions. The design model incorporates types of efficiencies that are fundamental to successfully operating new railway systems. A relationship between the geometrical layout of the new track and the technical efficiency of the dynamic hauling process and fuel consumption was determined. New results were obtained from simulation work done on the operating efficiency of the crossing of trains, and cast new light on the traditional formulae used for track capacity. The effect of total systemic efficiency on the resultant cycle time and rolling stock fleet sizes is demonstrated in this paper. The rail tariff and the internal rate of return (IRR) are interlinked, and the effect of inefficiencies on the performance and returns of the new railway project is illustrated.