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Sample Reduced Traveling Time for Freight Trains

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Higher speeds lead to track deterioration not only because of increased impact force from trains, but also due to increased lateral force accompanying unbalanced centrifugal force through curves.
Furthermore, the need for more severe maintenance tolerance should be stressed to maintain train safety and passenger comfort at high speeds. Mechanized track maintenance ensures higher quality of maintenance. Accordingly, mechanization of track maintenance should be duly considered especially for heavy traffic lines and for heavy track structures.
1.4 Reduced Transportation Costs
Reduced transportation costs are a major theme in enhancing the appeal and sustainability of railways. Railway track maintenance normally constitutes 10 - 15% of railway transport costs, although this figure varies widely according to the nature of the railway.
Needless to say, transport costs can be cut by reducing track maintenance cost. The simple solution - lowering the quality and quantity of maintenance - is not the answer.
Excessive maintenance is also out of the question. In order to cut back maintenance cost without sacrificing standards, measures which require a financial commitment are needed, such as the reduction of maintenance work resulting from track strengthening, revision of the maintenance system, mechanization of track maintenance work, and improving inspections.
Maintenance work by manpower is economical when railways traffic is not so much large and labor is easily secured. Accordingly, throughout railway history, maintenance has focused on the use of manpower. However, in case transport volume will be expanded and train speeds increased with economic progress, increased track deterioration and, subsequently, increased maintenance will be caused. At the same time, it will become difficult to hire laborers to perform maintenance work, given the harsh conditions, when the living standards of people become high. Track maintenance work has little appeal in Japan, like other countries, and has been called a typical example of "3K labor", taking the first letter of three adjectives used to describe it: "kitsui" (hard) "kiken" (dangerous) and "kitanai" (dirty).

 

 

 

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