The paper considers some peculiarities of the operating conditions of longwheelbase flatcars. It is analyzed the main reasons for the failure of elastomeric draft gears. The most rational ways to reduce the load on long-wheelbase flatcars are proposed and justified. An analysis of changes in ambient temperature during the passage of container trains from the Central part of Russia to the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) was carried out, and ways to ensure trouble-free operation of elastomer and rubber-metal draft gears were proposed. A computational model is proposed to study the operation of sequentially located (double) draft gears. The necessity of using computer modeling methods to test the effectiveness of the proposed arrangement of draft gears is substantiated. 

The paper considers the possibility of using artificial neural networks to predict the need for spare parts for machine hydraulic systems. The analysis of the distribution of faults is carried out in relation to ground transport and technological means, and the results of the analysis of existing traditional methods of reservation are presented. An approach to training an artificial neural network based on the multilayer perceptron model is proposed. The implementation of a variant of retraining an artificial neural network of the multilayer perceptron type for predicting the need for spare parts for machine hydraulic systems based on small volumes of input data for the past years using modern Data Mining technology on the 1C: Enterprise platform is presented. The results of the study can be useful for optimizing spare parts stocks and increasing the efficiency of machine hydraulic systems. 

The problem that arises when positioning autonomous transport objects when traveling in urban conditions and increased interference is touched upon. Such objects of railway infrastructure create an unpredictable nature of interference, which affects the sensors of an autonomous locomotive. In this case, when approaching a supporting infrastructure facility, it becomes impossible to use both satellite measurements and various sensors of the technical vision system. In this regard, the article proposes to use autonomous meters of linear motion parameters of a locomotive as navigation sensors, and to process noisy measurements - a Kalman filter and a robust filtering method. 

The paper is devoted to the study of a new mathematical method for simulating the movement of a truly viscous lubricant in the working clearance of a modified design of a radial sliding bearing.

To assess the wear resistance of the specified structure, the developed new mathematical method takes into account a polymer coating with an axial groove, a non-standard support profile and the compressibility of the lubricant. 

The new mathematical models obtained allow us to estimate the duration of the hydrodynamic lubrication regime, to make a calculated assessment of the effect of a polymer coating with an axial groove, taking into account the compressibility of the lubricant and a non-standard support profile on the main performance characteristics of sliding bearings: hydrodynamic pressure, load capacity and friction force. 

The issues of using adjustable power sources to provide preventive anti-icing heating of contact network wires are considered. It is indicated the problems of the system of preventive heating of the wires of the section contact network that arise when trains move along it, associated with the cooling of the suspension due to changes in currents in the traction network. It is presented an algorithm for controlling sources of preventive heating which ensures that the temperature of the wires is maintained to prevent their icing without introducing additional restrictions on the train movement. The algorithm takes into account the temperature limits which the heating of the wires is maintained, as well as transient processes that occur during switching, and the service life of the equipment.

The paper proposes the structure of a simulation model, a traction power supply system operating in conjunction with electric rolling stock, to perform multivariate calculations of the capacity of railway sections due to plans for the implementation of a project for introducing interval control technology for train traffic. To test the proposed model, an assessment was made of the peak powers of traction substations during the implementation of various train schedules using interval control on a double-track electrified section of the railway for the existing configuration of the traction power supply system and options for its strengthening. Using the example of a single-track section, it is shown that the use of the proposed simulation model will make it possible to evaluate options for constructing a traction power supply system for non-electrified sections with various promising train transit schemes. The proposed simulation model can be used to compare the technical and economic indicators of various options for strengthening the traction power supply system, modeling post-emergency situations and assessing the capacity of the traction power supply system when restoring the train schedule, and determining the minimum possible intervals between trains.

The study examines the cost aspects of the processes of energy recovery in electric transport and its reuse for useful transportation work. The purchase cost of recovered energy is zero. Regenerative braking does not cause additional wear on the elements of the car traction systems. Due to this, recuperative energy directed for useful reuse has zero cost. With the use of on-board or stationary storage devices, the excess part of the recovery energy can be redirected to repeated useful work. Since the efficiency of any storage devices does not exceed 64–68 %, the losses from the total energy of recovery in on-board storage devices exceed a third of its volume. In addition, energy is additionally consumed from the network for its own needs and transportation of on-board storage devices. Stationary storage devices are not transported, completely preserve the useful network flows of recuperation, ensure direct consumption of it by the network load during charging and release the stored part of it to the network after storage. Compared to the absence of storage devices of any type, on-board devices lead to an increase in the billable energy consumption of the GET, while stationary devices significantly reduce it. 

The paper considers the concept of cyber-physical power supply systems. It is shown that the core of the virtual segment of such a system should form digital models for calculating normal and emergency modes, heating of current-carrying parts and traction transformers, determining power quality indicators based on voltage deviations, levels of asymmetry and harmonic distortion. A comprehensive methodology is proposed that makes it possible to implement seamless computer technologies that provide determination of electrical and thermal conditions of traction transformers. Based on digital modeling, it is shown that the modeling methods and algorithms developed at the Irkutsk State Transport University allow one to calculate the electrical and thermal conditions of traction transformers. On this basis, computer technologies of the information and computing segment of the cyber-physical traction power supply system can be implemented.

The paper presents a methodology for designing models of digital twins of train traction energy supply processes, which provides the correct selection of factors and identification of parameters of a multifactor model for the territorial branches of JSC Russian Railways. 

The following processes of power supply were considered: electricity consumption for traction, specific electricity consumption, imbalance of traction power supply. As independent variables of the model, the processes of freight transportation and the processes to ensure them were studied: cargo loading, cargo turnover, train speed, indicators of the use of electric locomotives, wagons, etc. According to the results of the validation procedure, it was established that it was possible to simulate the dynamic implementation of the processes of power supply of train traction with an error of no more than 3.1–3.7% of the actual values.

The paper presents the most effective ways saving fuel and energy resources used in railway transport area. A system of additional power supply to the traction network has been proposed, which makes it possible to combine the most promising energy-saving technologies in railway transport. Due to the use of an unconventional energy source and a modern switched reluctance type electromechanical converter connected to the traction railway network, a guaranteed beneficial use of recovering energy is ensured, the quality traction power supply system is improved of operation by smoothing the voltage in the traction railway network, and energy losses are reduced due to shorter circuits of flowing currents. Using the “MATLAB/Simulink” software package, one of the options for collaboration work of the proposed device and the traction railway network was calculated. 

The paper is devoted to the development of the principles of early detection of ice and frost formations on the contact network of electrified railroads. The method considered in the paper is relevant for use on low-intensity crossings equipped with fully compensated contact suspension. The paper substantiates the possibility of determining the fact of the beginning of ice deposition by measuring the force at the point of fixing the fixed roller of the contact network compensator.  On the basis of the performed analysis the optimal place of installation of strain gauge measuring body of the system of early detection of ice formation is proposed. A method of analyzing the obtained data to isolate the variable component of the wire weight is proposed. The paper also gives a review of the existing methods of de-icing and their evaluation. 

The authors analyzed the directions for improving the operation of the freight transport and logistics system through the proposed measures of state support, tools for digital transformation of the transport industry, the use of modern developing innovative digital technologies, the organization of freight transportation using elements of digital infrastructure and the introduction of GIS services of the National Digital Transport -logistics platform”, GIS “Transport and Economic Balance”. The presented directions will make it possible to reduce the cost of the transportation process, improve the service of transport and logistics services, synchronize the work of elements of the transport and logistics system, optimally manage inventories, speed up and facilitate the movement of material cargo flows. 

The paper describes the transport and economic content of the approach to the formation of a negotiated tariff for urban rail freight transportation within the framework of the concept of consolidation centers. It is proposed to determine the tariff for the new service taking into account the prices of competing motor transport enterprises for various volumes of cargo required for transportation over distances within the agglomeration of a large city.

Using the proposed approach, the costs of transporting goods in cars and wagons were calculated and compared, and examples of rational options for implementing transportation with urban consolidation centers were given. The results allowed us to conclude that it is possible to provide a new railway service for transportation over short distances with minimally sufficient freight traffic.

This paper proposes a model to estimate the generalised cost of individual inter-municipal trips. The model integrates various aspects, including intra-city travel costs and passengers' preferences for departure and arrival times. This approach allows for a more accurate determination of passengers' choice of transport mode, route and trip. The model is flexible and can be modified and used within a traditional four-step transport demand forecasting model. The paper also outlines methods for determining calibration parameters, including analysis of input data obtained from sociological surveys and open sources, which allows for detailed calculation of parameters related to intra-city movements.

The paper considers the main trends and directions for the implementation of digital technologies at freight railway stations such as digitalization and automation of technological processes, digital interaction with users of transport services, digitalization of workplaces, robotization of technological operations in warehouses and cargo fronts of public places, as well as the creation of digital twins. Technological innovations aimed at improving production processes at freight railway stations and increasing their efficiency are presented. The study determined the level of digitalization of freight railway stations of the Kuibyshev Railway, and also presented a SWOT analysis of the implementation of digital technologies in the operation of freight railway stations. 

The transportation of goods in containers is considered one of the progressive directions in improving the transportation process. Container operators are shipping companies, thanks to which the delivery of commercial products is carried out. 

The paper discusses the main directions of shipping goods in containers carried out by container operators from the West Siberian Railway. The share of container operators in shipments made to the regions of Russia in the context of the country's railways and in international traffic, that is, across the world, is shown.

Based on the territorial (geographical) and volumetric (quantitative) indicators of shipments, the conclusion is made about the closeness of commodity and transport links of the Russian Railways with the railways of the network and with the countries of the world. 

The purpose of the study was to analyze the work of container operators organizing the transportation of goods for domestic and export purposes, the species diversity of goods shipped in containers and the location of consignees. This made it possible to identify and identify the participation of the railway in the domestic and foreign commodity and transport markets.

The paper presents a methodology for accounting and analyzing shipments made by container operators, tested at the landfill of the West Siberian Railway.

The paper proposed a methodology for assessing management decisions of a railway carrier company to attract a freight base and diversify business areas using the differentiation of shippers. The approach is based on the use of fuzzy logic in analyzing changes in transportation volumes and company income to describe the incompleteness of information about customer reactions. The efficiency of investments is used as a criterion, the approach takes into account the different reactions of customers to the choice of management decisions depending on the type of cargo, the change in transportation volumes and income is described by triangular fuzzy numbers. It is shown that at present, a more effective strategy is one that provides for the expansion of associated transportation and logistics services compared to solutions aimed at discounting the railway tariff.

The operation of the arc ignition circuit at the welding and the formation start stages of small droplets has been optimized in order to increase the productivity and quality of the rolling stock parts repairing. The paper presents an analysis of the technological characteristics of long and short arc welding processes, control systems for melting and metal transfer. It is established the mutual influence of various process stages. It was experimentally proved that the depth of base metal penetration increased with decreasing electrode diameter due to widening in current density. Melting and metal transfer control systems are presented to optimize the short arc welding process. Materials on control systems are summarized and recommendations for optimizing the welding process are given. 

The paper considers the calculation of determining the eccentricity parameters of the plain bearing based on the determination of angular coordinates in a material-aggregate model tested on an II5018 friction machine. Analysis of the obtained data makes it possible to establish the specified position of the eccentricity and the average position of the thickness of the lubricant layer h₀, as well as to determine the values and positions of the minimum film thickness h_min in the contact area of the mating bodies without using approximate or specified values of the angular coordinate of the eccentricity, thereby increasing the research accuracy in the field of friction. The results of eccentricity parameters are presented with calculated tabulated values in the form of comparative tabular values. 

The paper presents the results of modeling the developed braking torque of the brake based on the differentiation of brake pads by the moment of activation and the duration of interaction with the disc working surface. The relationship between the transverse movement of the brake pad and the developed braking torque of a drum-and-pad type power device, which is a two-mass oscillatory system (brake pad is a clamping element), is investigated.

Based on bench tests of drum-and-pad type braking devices with a different number of segment brake pads, an increase in power factors and stability indicators for power devices with six clamping elements relative to the serial brake design was proved: the coefficient of stabilization of the braking torque of a power device with six segment pads increased by 9.4 % relative to the serial brake device; the coefficient of vibration of the braking torque of the power device with six segment pads increased by 45.1 % relative to the serial braking device.