RAIL INNOVATION IN CANADA: Top 10 Technology Areas for Passenger and Freight Rail JUNE 2020 CUTRIC-CRITUC Low-Carbon Smart Mobility Knowledge Series No. 1 2020 2 Transport Canada Disclaimer This report reflects the views of the author and not necessarily the official views or policies of the Innovation Centre of Transport Canada or the co-sponsoring organizations. The Innovation Centre and the co-sponsoring agencies do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are essential to the report’s objectives. Rail Innovation in Canada: Top 10 Technology Areas for Passenger and Freight Rail CUTRIC-CRITUC Low-Carbon Smart Mobility Knowledge Series No. 1 2020 Published in Toronto, Ontario Copyright @ CUTRIC-CRITUC 2020 Authors: Dr. Elnaz Abotalebi, Smart Vehicle Project Lead and Researcher; Dr. Yutian Zhao, Project Development Officer; Dr. Abhishek Raj, National Project Lead and Researcher, Dr. Josipa G. Petrunić, President & CEO Funded by: Transport Canada CUTRIC-CRITUC Low-Carbon Smart Mobility Knowledge Series No. 1 2020 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................6 LIST OF ACRONYMS ..........................................................................................................................7 ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................9 RÉSUMÉ .........................................................................................................................................10 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................11 SOMMAIRE......................................................................................................................................14 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................17 SECTION 1: LITERATURE REVIEW OF GLOBAL RAIL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION............................19 1.1 ALTERNATIVE PROPULSION ................................................................................................................................................19 1.1.1 United States..............................................................................................................................................................19 1.1.2 Germany .....................................................................................................................................................................20 1.1.3 United Kingdom .........................................................................................................................................................20 1.1.4 Ireland ..........................................................................................................................................................................21 1.1.5 Russia ..........................................................................................................................................................................21 1.1.6 China............................................................................................................................................................................21 1.1.7 Japan ...........................................................................................................................................................................21 1.1.8 South Korea................................................................................................................................................................21 1.1.9 Other Countries .........................................................................................................................................................21 1.1.10 Canada......................................................................................................................................................................22 SUMMARY....................................................................................................................................................................................23 1.2 ENERGY EFFICIENCY...........................................................................................................................................................24 1.2.1 Electric Power Systems ...........................................................................................................................................24 1.2.2 Energy Storage Systems (ESS) ............................................................................................................................25 1.2.3 Diesel-Electric Hybrid...............................................................................................................................................26 1.2.4 Aerodynamics ............................................................................................................................................................27 1.2.5 Operational Improvement........................................................................................................................................28 SUMMARY....................................................................................................................................................................................29 1.3 OPERATIONAL OPTIMIZATION .............................................................................................................................................30 1.3.1 Railway Scheduling ..................................................................................................................................................30 1.3.2 Railway Maintenance ...............................................................................................................................................32 1.3.3 Real-Time Operations ..............................................................................................................................................34 1.3.4 Integrated Mobility.....................................................................................................................................................35 SUMMARY....................................................................................................................................................................................36 1.4 ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS ...................................................................................................................................................36 1.4.1 Light-weight, High-Strength and Multifunctional Materials ..............................................................................36 1.4.2 Railcar Structure Redesign .....................................................................................................................................38 1.4.3 Material Science and Additive Manufacturing ....................................................................................................39 1.4.4 Rail Ties ......................................................................................................................................................................40 SUMMARY....................................................................................................................................................................................41 SECTION 2: METHODOLOGY FOR FOCUS GROUP DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.......................42 LOCATION, DATE AND TECHNOLOGY THEMES OF ALL FIVE FOCUS GROUP SESSIONS. ........................................................42 2.1 FOCUS GROUP METHODOLOGY .........................................................................................................................................43 2.2 SUMMARY OF FOCUS GROUP SESSION TECHNOLOGY THEME AREAS ..........................................................................45 2.2.1 Session 1B: Alternative Propulsion.......................................................................................................................46 2.2.2 Session 2: Energy Efficiency ..................................................................................................................................47 2.2.3 Session 3: Operational Optimization and Integrated Mobility .........................................................................48 2.2.4 Session 4: Alternative Materials ............................................................................................................................48 2.3 Quantitative Analysis ...................................................................................................................................................49 2.3.2 Sensitivity Analysis ...................................................................................................................................................54 2.4 Qualitative Analysis: Data Analysis through Content Analysis ..........................................................................55 2.4.1 Summary of Qualitative Data Analysis.................................................................................................................56 2.5 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF “T OP 3” RANKED TECHNOLOGY THEME AREAS