Efficient Railway Gauge Conversion with Tunnel reconstruction

Lezin Seba Minsili; Michel Mbessa; Wolfgang Nzie; Rodney  Chiabi Nuh Mih; Christian Magloire  Ndjegwes

doi:10.37367/jrtt.v3i1.24

Authors

Lezin Seba Minsili ENSPY, The University of Yaounde 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1385-3649
Michel Mbessa Civil Engineering Department, Yaoundé National Polytechnic High College, The University of Yaoundé 1
Wolfgang Nzie Mechanical Engineering Department, ENSAI College, The University of Ngaoundéré, Adamaoua Region, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
Rodney Chiabi Nuh Mih Civil Engineering Department, Yaoundé National Polytechnic High College, The University of Yaoundé 1
Christian Magloire Ndjegwes Head of the Department of Railway Transport Management, The Ministry of Transport, Yaoundé, Cameroon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37367/jrtt.v3i1.24

Keywords:

Tunnel reconstruction, Railway gauge, Construction cost, Conversion, Multi-criteria comparison

Abstract

The modernization of railway networks constructed during the colonial era requires the conversion of railway gauges from the metric to the standard gauge, as well as the expansion from single-track operation to a dual-track operation in order to accommodate railway infrastructures with the traffic growth. Existing critical infrastructures such as bridges and tunnels in the existing network will also require appropriate reconstruction measures since minimum clearance requirements associated with the standard gauge are subjected to new rolling stock and maintenance facilities. The present work presents an optimal procedure to solve efficiently the problem of a tunnel reconstruction during track conversion while maintaining trains circulation during the transition period from metric to standard gauge with less traffic interruption. From a multi-criteria comparison scheme we examine different options ranging from enlarging the existing tunnel to constructing an adjacent new standard gauge dual-track tunnel with the construction of an adjacent standard gauge single-track tunnel as a neutral choice. Results show that enlarging the existing tunnel under a sustained traffic, is both technically feasible and economically viable.

Author Biographies

Lezin Seba Minsili, ENSPY, The University of Yaounde 1

Railway Engineer, Associate Professor

Michel Mbessa, Civil Engineering Department, Yaoundé National Polytechnic High College, The University of Yaoundé 1

Associate Professor

Wolfgang Nzie, Mechanical Engineering Department, ENSAI College, The University of Ngaoundéré, Adamaoua Region, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon

Associate Professor

Rodney Chiabi Nuh Mih, Civil Engineering Department, Yaoundé National Polytechnic High College, The University of Yaoundé 1

Graduate Student

Christian Magloire Ndjegwes, Head of the Department of Railway Transport Management, The Ministry of Transport, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Civil Engineer

References

KOTI Consortium, CSE, KRNA, KORPEC. "Plan Directeur Ferroviaire National du Cameroun.," Ministère des Transports. ‘The National Railway Master Plan of Cameroon from Ministry of Transports of Cameroon’, adopted on 2012 by MINEPAT.

Minsili L. S., M. J. Kisito, T. Gilbert, N. Jean, K. A. Gadam and D. P. Christian. "Requirements to the Modernization of African Railway Networks: The Standard Gauge Versus the Metric Gauge”, International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 2017 vol. 8, no. 7, pp. 925-941, 2017.

Nanda Ahda Imron, Dian M. Setiawan, Ali OktavianHandoko, Erifendi Churniawan, Handoko, Ary Putra Iswanto, “An Analysis of Passengers’ Safety Risk at the Infrastructure Improvement Project of Railway Station” Journal of Railway Transportation and Technology, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2022) 1-13 p, e-ISSN: 2830-6680, https://doi.org/10.37367/jrtt.v1i2.13

Villalobos S., P. Cacciari, M. Futai, 2020. “Stability assessment around a railway tunnel using terrestrial laser scanner data and finite element analysis”. Revista Ingeniería de Construcción RIC, Vol 35, Nº1 2020, p21-33. www.ricuc.cl

Judit Gómez, Joan R. Casas, Sergi Villalba. ‘Structural Health Monitoring with Distributed Optical Fiber Sensors of tunnel lining affected by nearby construction activity’. Automation in Construction 117 (2020) 103261, www.elsevier.com/locate/autcon

Mouhamed Bayane Bouraima , Yanjun Qiu , Bekhzad Yusupov , Christian Magloire Ndjegwes. “A study on the development strategy of the railway transportation system in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) based on the SWOT/AHP technique”, Scientific African (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00388

Triantaphyllou E., B. Shu, Nieto Sanchez, T. Ray, 1998. ‘Multicriteria Decision Making : An Operations Research Approach’. Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, New York, Vol. 15 pp. 175-186 (1998).

Matthias Villads Hinsch Als , Mathias Bejlegaard Madsen, Rune Møller Jensen, “A data-driven bi-objective matheuristic for energy-optimising timetables in a passenger railway network”, Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management 26 (2023) 100374, www.elsevier.com/locate/jrtpm

Nabil M. Al-Nasser. “The Impact of Financial Analysis in Maximizing the Firm’s Value "A Case Study on the Jordanian Industrial Companies". International Journal of Managerial Studies and Research (IJMSR) Volume 2, Issue 6, July 2014, pp 1-9 ISSN 2349-0330 (Print) & ISSN 2349-0349 (Online). www.arcjournals.org

Anaja Blessing, Emmanuel E. Onoja. “The Role of Financial Statements on Investment Decision Making: A case of United Bank for Africa”. European Journal of Business, Economics and Accountancy, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2015. ISSN 2056-6018 Progressive Academic Publishing, UK p.12. www.idpublications.org

Handoko, Firdaus Ade Kurniawan, Natriya Faisal Rachman, Rao Guangjiong, “Investigating Public Perception Toward the Level Crossing Without Railway Gate Crossing (Case Study: at JPL 297 and 294 Lamongan)”. Journal of Railway Transportation and Technology Vol. 1 No. 1 (2022) 37-45 p-ISSN:2830-0491 e-ISSN:2830-6680 37-45 https://doi.org/10.37367/jrtt.v1i1.7

Tonon F. “Methods for Enlarging Transportation Tunnels while Keeping Tunnels Fully Operational”, Periodical on Structural Design and Construction, Vol. 15, Issue 4 (November 2010). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000035

Smith CDM. “Heroes Tunnel Alternative Construction Options Study”. Final Report, Connecticut Department of Transportation, New Haven, November 2014. https://www.heroestunnelproject.com/HTAbout.php

Libasse SOW. ”Ballasted Railways in Senegal - Characterization of Bandia Limestone and Diack Basalt for Use as Ballast Materials”. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 14, Number 15 (2019), pp. 3396-3405. © Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

Kampas G., J.A. Knappett, M.J. Brown, I. Anastasopoulos, N. Nikitas, R. Fuentes. “Implications of volume loss on the seismic response of tunnels in coarsegrained soils”. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 95 (2020) 103127. www.elsevier.com/locate/tust

Rajagopalan, N., Brancart S., De Regel S., Paduart A., Temmerman N.D., Debacker W. “Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Using Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing in Circular Building Design: A Case Study for Wall Partitioning Systems in the Circular Retrofit Lab”. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5124. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095124

Hodgett, R. E. “Comparison of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods for Equipment Selection”. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2016, 85 (5-8). pp. 1145-1157. ISSN 0268-3768 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-015-7993-2

UNESCO, ‘Les Tunnels ferroviare de Njock’, 2nd February 2018. Accessed 21 September 2019. Available online : https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6327/ .

Google Maps. The railway network at Eseka. Accessed on July 19, 2019. Available: https://maps,google.com/ .

Ndong B. F., M. S. Ntomba and O. J. Mvondo. “Deformation et Metamorphisme dans la Partie Centrale de la Chaine de Ngovayang (Sud-Cameroun)’, Afrique Science 08(3) (2012) 42 – 50, ISSN 1813-548X, http://www.afriquescience.info

Owona S., G. A. Alexandre, D. Youmen and L. Ratschbacher. “Geologic control of morphotectonic units from the Edea-Eseka Line”, REV. CAMES - VOL. 01.2013, Research Gate, December 2013. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272794488

EduMine. “Rock Mass Rating (RMR) Design Tables”. Retrieved from EduMine - Professional Development and Training for Mining and the Geosciences on august 2020: http://www.edumine.com/tools/rock-mass-rating-rmr-design-tables

Bhawani Singh, R.K. Coel. “Rock Mass Classification: A Practical Approach in Civil Engineering”. 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved, p. 47-60. http://faculty.tafreshu.ac.ir/file/download/course/1583681774-rock-mass-classification.pdf

Avramovic N., 2010. ‘Comparison of ballasted and ballastless tracks: Ballast and concrete railway superstructure’, VDM Verlag Dr. Müller 2010, ISBN-10: ‎3639271386, 108 pages.

CAMRAIL. “Cameroun Railway : Guide Horraires et Tarrifs”. Retrieved on september 17, 2019 from CAMRAIL website: http://www.camrail.net/en/

Singh, R., Singh, T. N., & Bajpai, R. K. “The Investigation of Twin Tunnel Stability: Effect of Spacing and Diameter”. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 2018 vol. 91(5), 563-568.

World Bank. “Railway Reform: Toolkit for Improving Rail Sector Performance, Case Study: Camrail”. 2nd Edition 2017. Transport and ICT Global Practice, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433. : http://www.worldbank.org/transport