The railway line from Hungarian border to Simeria is the busiest railway route of the CFR national Company network because the most important freight and passenger traffic both national and international runs on it. But to make this railway line to comply with the international demands as required by the norms and by the parameters of the railway traffic along the Pan – European Corridor IV, it is necessary to rehabilitate the line. The studied railway section, being part of Corridor IV (from Germany to the Black sea), could also constitute an important link towards Caucasian and Central Asia countries. The scope of the study is to improve the existing technical conditions of the railway line, the quality of the railway construction and installations that make possible the trains to run with a speed equal to 160 km/h (passenger trains) and 120 km/h (freight trains). To this aim, all the natural and current geometrical constraints were analysed, in order to propose the best mix of upgrading works to be evaluated under the points of view of the financial and economic analyses. Particular attention was given to the horizontal curve radius in order to propose their increasing were possible, limiting as much as possible impacts on the existing urban settlements and roads or installation, and limiting stations removals or adaptation. Currently, line minimum curve shows radius of 350/400 m, while, line speed of 160 km/h requires a minimum radius of 1500 m. Four alternative rehabilitation investments have been identified, through the adequate combination of different compliance with AGC/AGTC standards. Studied solutions both envisage high changes compliant with minimum radius of 1500 m and low changes compliant with radius of 800 m (corresponding to 120 km/h speed). Basically the rehabilitation of this railway line will also mark a step ahead in bringing the quality of the railway network and the quality of the traffic nearer the western European standard.

railway line; geometrical constraints; curve radius

Presentation: oral