Possibilities of collecting capacity utilization data in rail transport

Precise knowledge of usage data in rail transport, both in freight and passenger transport, is crucial for the efficient management and improvement of rail transport in Germany. Efficiency and control should be improved. Particularly in rail freight transport, by gaining valuable insights into capacity utilisation and operational flexibility. This research focuses on the identification and analysis of freight wagon utilisation indicators and the techniques used to measure them.

The German Center for Rail Traffic Research (DZSF) of the Federal Railway Authority (EBA) has initiated a research project to collect capacity utilisation data for rail passenger transport, local and long-distance rail passenger transport using an interdisciplinary approach. In passenger transport, existing approaches to collecting capacity utilisation data were reviewed and further developed using modern methods based on current technological standards. In freight transport, the capacity utilisation survey approaches are still in the testing phase. Currently, modern data collection methods are reviewed for their suitability.

Advances in technology, such as big data and artificial intelligence (AI), are opening new possibilities for data collection and analysis in rail transportation. These developments do not only improve the quality of the data collected, but also significantly simplify and accelerate data analysis.

There is an opportunity to use existing data more efficiently through targeted processing and to use innovative techniques to generate new data sources. However, it should be noted that both data protection regulations and the property rights of the operators must be considered appropriately.

The rail sector already generates extensive data. However, this data is collected for different purposes and is not compatible with each other. Using scientific methods such as interview studies, key capacity utilisation figures and requirements for a monitoring system are to be identified. Stakeholders from the rail freight transport sector such as operators, terminal operators, freight forwarders, rail transport companies and freight transport companies will be interviewed. The overarching aim of the project is to create a basis for future, innovative, data-based solutions for managing rail transport capacities by building up a solid knowledge base.

The project is being carried out by Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft (IABG) mbH as the DZSF project representative in cooperation with Interautomation Deutschland GmbH, RS Consult Holding UG and the Technical University of Darmstadt.