The company HS2 Ltd was set up by the UK government in January 2009 with an initial brief to report on options for High Speed Two, a high-speed railway between London and the West Midlands. This was to include access to London and Birmingham city centres, but with the potential for future extension northwards. Options were also required for intermediate stations and connections to the Great Western

In January 2012 the UK government announced that powers would be sought for a London-to-West Midlands high-speed rail line based on a refined version of a 220 km route that was consulted upon in 2011. At the same time, High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd, the agency responsible for implementing the project, appointed a development partner for the London-to-West Midlands phase (phase 1) to assist HS2 and to manage

Since 2009 the promoter of the UK's High Speed Two (HS2) railway has listened to others’ views on development of the first London-to-West Midlands phase. Initial scheme development required time to think and determine the best response to the remit, working in confidence with key stakeholders. Through the early part of 2011 a major national consultation was undertaken on the strategy for HS2, the approach

The hybrid bill for the London-to-West Midlands phase of the UK's High Speed Two (HS2) high-speed railway weighed half a tonne, and was the largest ever deposited in parliament. Preparation, to strict requirements of parliament's standing orders, took 22 months, using a large part of the country's engineering and environmental resources, and was completed to time and on budget.

High Speed Two (HS2) will be the new backbone of the UK rail network, connecting eight out of ten of the largest cities. Cities are drivers of economic growth, but those in the Midlands and the Nor...

The environmental statement (ES) for the first phase of the UK's High Speed Two high-speed railway (London to West Midlands) was submitted with the hybrid bill for the project in November 2013. It ...

An appropriate interchange type selection would help tackle traffic problems and avoid a decreasing level of traffic service and safety. Design alternatives are usually generated according to an en...

The aim of this paper is to propose a multi-criteria decision-making approach, combining the ‘analytic hierarchy process’ (AHP) and ‘technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution’ ...

Saturation flow is a fundamental performance measure parameter used for the design of intersections. However, in mixed traffic conditions, the evaluation of saturation flow is more sensitive due to...

Traffic crashes are a social problem around the world and climate change is one of the major environmental factors that cause road crashes. The severity of multi-vehicle crashes under different wea...

A co-operative driving system for road junctions is an example of a vehicle cyber–physical system. It integrates the cyber systems in vehicles with their physical systems to optimise co-operative d...

Transport sustainability and its evaluation are important for urban transport planners and policy makers. Some essential methodological frameworks available for evaluating transport sustainability ...

The aim of this study was to develop three roundabout entry capacity models (RECMs) by employing evolutionary-based regression techniques such as genetic programming (GP), age-layered population structure genetic programming (ALPSGP) and grammatical evolution genetic programming (GEGP) in mixed traffic conditions. Necessary data were collected from 27 roundabouts located in eight states in India. The

Bituminous mixes prepared using recycled coarse aggregate exhibit inferior characteristics compared to a control mix using natural stone aggregate. This is mostly due to the presence of loose cement mortar in the recycled aggregate. The study reported in this paper evaluated the performances of recycled aggregate mixes using different polymers, including centrifuged latex polymer, crumb rubber powder

Fluctuations in traffic flows at isolated intersections throughout the day have a negative impact on the control effects of certain traffic signal control methods. To solve this problem, adaptive signal control of isolated intersections based on sequential signal-stage optimisation is proposed under a multi-stage optimal decision framework to reduce vehicle delays and increase traffic efficiency. In

Rural highway crash analyses have shown that the majority of accidents occur on horizontal curves where the vehicle is exposed to lateral forces, which increase the probability of skidding. Moreover, in cases of compound alignments where curves from the road's horizontal alignment are overlaid with constant grades or vertical curves, the probability of skidding increases due to the increase of the

Node-selection behaviour in subway stations directly impacts the utilisation and capacity of equipment and facilities. Although this topic has been extensively studied in various fields, existing studies are limited to environment characteristics while little research has been undertaken from the perspectives of pedestrian and interaction characteristics. In this study, pedestrian node-selection behaviour

Moisture damage is a prevalent problem for hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements all over the world and the use of moisture-resistant pavement materials is critical for ensuring durable pavements. There is thus a need for the development of an accurate method of identification of moisture-susceptible mixes during laboratory mix design. The objective of this study was to develop a system of identification

Low-temperature cracking is one of the main distresses of asphalt pavements, which reduces their serviceability and leads to water ingress into lower layers of the pavement. The use of modified asphalt mixtures is a way of preventing low-temperature cracking in cold regions. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of asphalt mixtures modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs)

First-class bricks and waste (i.e. overburnt) bricks can be used as a substitute for stone aggregates in asphalt concrete. However, the high porosity of brick aggregate can result in moisture damage, which results in premature distresses in asphalt pavements. In this study, the effect of centrifuged latex (Cenex) on the moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixtures made with overburnt bricks and first-class

Fatigue failure is a major problem in pavement layers. When using non-conventional aggregate as a replacement for natural stone aggregate, the probability of pavement distress is high. The fatigue behaviour of asphalt concrete with crushed brick aggregate (CBA) reinforced with polypropylene fibre (PPF) was analysed in this study. Two different aggregate types were used with four different PPF contents

The high demand for natural stone aggregate (NSA) in infrastructure development is having an alarming ecological impact. The study of alternative materials thus holds high research interest in terms of sustainability. The use of crushed kiln brick aggregate in pavements reinforced with polypropylene fibre (PPF) was studied in this work, with a focus on the performance differences between wet-mixed

This aim of this research was to enhance the performance of asphalt binder using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and wet mixing. Five asphaltic binder compositions were prepared with varying amounts of MWCNT additions in the range 0–1.50 %w/w. The binder performance was evaluated through an investigation of the basic viscoelastic properties, rheological characteristics and moisture susceptibility

The parliamentary process for a hybrid bill incorporates aspects of both public and private bill procedures. The key differences from the process followed by normal government (i.e. public) legislation are a consultation on the environmental statement and select committee (SC) stages in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. For the bulk of its time in parliament, which typically spans a

An advanced design classification system for bicycle paths, based on geometric features and force equilibrium, can pave the way for improved bicycle safety, accident prevention and the development of design guidelines. A design and classification system does exist for bicycle paths, but the number of accidents has led to ambivalence about its validity and effectiveness. In addition, a universally accepted

In the transport management of aviation networks, uncertain factors and delay propagation are two main sources of flight delays. However, the impacts of uncertainty and the degree of delays are difficult to calculate empirically in daily operations. In this paper, a novel delay propagation model is introduced utilising the mathematical modelling tool coloured–timed Petri nets. This model enables descriptions

The development of the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) in the late 1970s made it possible to determine quickly the in situ modulus and critical stresses/strains in pavement structures, which are generally considered the most important input for the ‘mechanistic’ part of the mechanistic–empirical pavement design method. In 2015, the newly designed FastFWD was released and provided the opportunity

Through analysing the stress and deformation of a longitudinally coupled prefabricated track slab (LCPTS) with cracks at high temperature, an analysis model for the stability of LCPTS with cracks was established based on the finite-element method and was tested by a scale model on-site. The effects of crack status on the stability of track slabs under the action of a temperature rise were studied through

The aim of this study was to explore the viability of microsimulation in estimating critical gaps at unsignalised intersections. Critical gaps are generally estimated by extracting gap acceptance d...

The hybrid bill for the first phase of the UK's High Speed Two (HS2) high-speed railway (London to the West Midlands) was submitted in November 2013. This paper outlines the general principles and ...

Culverts and bridges are the most common areas on railway lines where abrupt changes of track stiffness can occur. Using auxiliary rails in the transition zone is one option for gradually increasing track stiffness. The study reported in this paper investigated this issue by means of finite-element modelling. A ballasted track with a concrete culvert on the Tehran–Isfahan high-speed railway line in

The paper presents an analysis of the elongation of transition curves in relation to railway track alignment correction and modernisation. The analysis is based on numerical computations for a wide range of parameters describing a typical railway geometrical layout with transition curves. The differences between the horizontal ordinates of the existing layout and the layout with the elongated transition

The basic objective of this work was to identify best-fitting traffic stream models for the varying traffic flows on high-speed urban roads under heterogeneous traffic in India. To this end, traffic data on ten-lane, eight-lane and six-lane divided roadways were collected. An iterative process was developed to fit traffic stream models by optimising constant parameters using optimisation techniques

Bus transit capacities are of two types: operational capacity (OC) and maximum capacity (MC). The OC is estimated based on the empirical failure rate (FR), whereas the MC is estimated considering a 25% maximum FR. The hypothesis of this study is that the maximum FR for a bus rapid transit system (BRTS) station would be more than 25%. The OC for a corridor of the BRTS in Ahmedabad, India was first estimated

The choice of intersection type in a road network is one of the most important decisions to be made in transportation engineering. Capacity and level of service are the two main factors considered in the type of intersection design, but safety and economy should also be taken into account when determining the intersection type since these are equally important. A number of parameters can be used to

Switch & Crossing Maintenance

Novel landslide early-warning signs for were introduced on the A83 strategic road incorporating a standard rockfall/landslide red warning triangle, switchable flashing lights (‘wig-wags’), and a su...

The road safety resource allocation determines the extent to which the combined alternatives of remedial actions can be effective. In this study, the economic appraisal was fulfilled using cost-eff...

Laboratory testing equipment for asphalt mixtures with three different functionalities is introduced. The rotary compactor and wheel tracker (RCWT) not only achieves realistic contact areas of actu...

The microscopic traffic simulation technique has become a powerful tool to study the complex traffic system when analytical or empirical approaches cannot adequately and accurately define the respo...

Reducing road width can not only save land, but it can also increase traffic safety. However, the traffic flow mechanism due to lane narrowing is not clear and car-following behaviour may also chan...

As traffic on Britain's railways has grown, the system is approaching capacity and moving towards 24/7 operation. This increases wear and tear, and reduces access for maintenance, renewal and enhancement. Increasing costs of renewals and enhancements are also questioned, amid funding scarcity. Alongside predictive and preventive maintenance, improved planning and implementation of renewals and enhancements

Subsidence and collapse of structures supporting overhead line equipment (OLE) due to legacy coal mining can be catastrophic during both the construction and operational phases, causing damage to construction plant, injuries and fatalities to the construction and maintenance workforce, failure of the track and disruption to the operational railway. When applied to linear railway schemes spanning considerable

The Network Rail Anglia region has 1091 km of earthworks, many of which are steep-sided embankments constructed of locally won fill materials in Victorian times. In order to extend the serviceable lifespan and to ensure the safety of the public with the ever-increasing demand on railway infrastructure, understanding the geological and geotechnical risks is of critical importance. Approaches to control

This paper presents direct track deflection data measured using a video gauge (VG) (a digital image correlation (DIC) method) to determine track stiffness characteristics remotely. Two cases are discussed. First, the deflection performance of two novel ballastless trackforms are coupled with an analytical model to assess their stiffness properties for known train loads. Second, the performance of a

London is a megacity with a population of just under 10 million people that is increasing. Investment in major infrastructure projects is required to cope with this growth, including the upgrade of existing rail infrastructure. The West Anglia main line project in north London involves upgrading the railway network to meet the demands spawned by the regeneration of the Lea Valley hinterland, catalysed

Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damage to rails and low adhesion at the rail–wheel interface remain significant problems in maintaining railway performance, fully utilising network capacity and reducing running costs. A novel approach has been developed to understand these problems through analysis of data on RCF and low-adhesion incidents from the UK rail network. This augments understanding of specific

High-speed railways can move passengers and goods cost-effectively and sustainably. However, there is a need to consider the objectives of high-speed rail (HSR) systems and to analyse eventual public benefits in order to minimise economic risk. Currently, there are three major HSR systems in development around the world – Rail Baltica in northern Europe, California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) in the USA

Throughout the last decade, the rise of open data in research has led to the release of many scientific datasets. Air transportation data are of particular interest given their high impact on migra...

Travel satisfaction expectation for urban rail transit increased with the continuous increasing development of urban rail transit system. Operators provide different transit service by timetable re...

To identify hazardous sections of newly built mountainous highways, decision-makers require assistance to determine the sections that may pose risks to road users, thereby enhancing the level of road safety management and capital utilisation efficiency. In this research, traffic accident economic losses were used as evaluation indices to characterise 30 horizontally curved sections of roadways. These

A Markov switching logit model with spatial dependencies for real-time crash risk assessment is proposed, with the purpose of identifying hazardous traffic-flow conditions with high crash potential. The Markov switching process assumes that freeway segments can switch between two unobserved safety states over time, and that parameter estimates may vary between these two states. The spatial simultaneous

Foggy weather can reduce visibility for drivers and one of the main consequences of this condition can be the change in behaviour regarding choice of speed, which will vary from driver to driver owing to their varying personal and socio-economic characteristics and driving experience. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of adverse weather conditions on speed-choice behaviour of drivers on

The focus of this study was to explore the characteristics of traffic flow as well the behaviour of drivers on the roads and their relationship with accidents in the Jazan region. Data collected over a span of 4 years have been used to achieve the objectives of the study. The most important results were that 85% of the accidents in the sample were attributable to drivers under the age of 40 and the

Natural cracking in unjointed roller-compacted concrete pavement (RCCP) may exhibit poor load transfer efficiency (LTE) across the cracks, leading to the occurrence of faulting, further cracking and excessive deflection, and a dramatic decrease in pavement service life. The aim of this study is to enable pavement designers to make the right decision as to whether or not to saw cut joints for RCCP.

Traffic calming techniques are extensively used as safety tools to reduce the speed of motorised vehicles along any type of paved road. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of is...

Since variations in exogenous factors could cause unpredictable fluctuations/variability of the speed–flow relationship, the aim of this study was to develop probabilistic speed–flow relationships ...

Surrogate safety measures have been recognised as suitable tools for a warning strategy. As one such measure, the time to collision (TTC) is the time remaining to a collision if the collision cours...

Most performance prediction models for asphalt pavements are either based on laboratory data or numerical distress data collected from field surveys. However, these models do not fully reflect the ...

This paper reports on an investigation into the effects of gender mainstreaming efforts on the institutions that deliver and support rural transport infrastructure and services in Kenya. It comes a...