Shunting stations, serving as distribution centers in the transport chain, are important components of the rail freight transport. They entail significant costs as well as produce increasing noise around the shunting areas due to roll off operations. In Austria it is continuously strived to improve the railway system. This addresses also noise reduction in all shunting stations. The aim of this project is to give a wider overview of technologies and methods with which, at least partly automatized brake/deceleration of a freely rolling fright car are possible. The challenge is that they go beyond the state of the art and the scientific research, highly innovative, but which nevertheless provide application opportunity.

First, at abstract level, ideas should be collected and sketched with the help of a modern innovation process. This open-ended approach leads to investigation of technologies and methods that are still innovative but their application in the field of railway or in other applied technic are very limited or had no opportunity to be used at all.    

These ideas will be evaluated together with the client based on the defined criteria (LCC, automation capacity, integration to existing facilities, wear/abrasion, noise,…). Afterwards, an alternative with more promising application will be provided. For the evaluation, the performance of a freight car at the hump will be analyzed using a simulation tool, which is developed by FH St. Poelten. The important physical parameters for braking (force, length,…) will be determined by the impact speed <= 1,25 m/sec as given in the call and the data on the vehicle and infrastructure, including other influencing factors (e.g. wind speed).

This alternative will be deeply analyzed as well as will either be evaluated by using an excellent simulation or possibly tested and validated practically by a laboratory or field test. This will be performed together with the external partners, who have big expertise in the field. The result will be processed scenarios which are ready for implementation. With this it is possible to provide the client a solid basis for the subsequent call for installation of the facility and/or a prototype.