Optimal working zone division for safe track maintenance in The Netherlands

Area of Science:

• Operations Research
• Transportation Safety
• Infrastructure Management

Background:

• Rail track work poses significant safety risks, highlighted by serious accidents.
• Dutch Railways faced urgent political pressure to improve worker safety.
• Existing infrastructure management lacked adequate safety protocols for maintenance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for dividing Dutch railway infrastructure into safe working zones.
• To ensure all stakeholders' interests are considered in the zoning process.
• To address the complex challenge of managing conflicting interests in railway maintenance.

Main Methods:

• Development of specific division rules for railway infrastructure.
• Implementation of a zoning strategy for maintenance activities.
• Analysis of stakeholder requirements and conflicting interests.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed and implemented division rules for railway working zones.
• Created a system to take specific working zones out of service for maintenance.
• Established a framework for satisfying diverse stakeholder needs.

Conclusions:

• The developed division rules effectively address the safety concerns of rail track workers.
• The zoning approach provides a viable solution for managing railway maintenance safely.
• The methodology offers a transferable model for complex infrastructure management problems.