Characteristic of professional focus:

-       the group is focused on requirements of interoperability, related standards and technical solutions for the Infrastructure subsystem

Objectives of professional focus:

-       create support for representatives of the Czech Republic in the European institutes and their working groups (CER, ERA, NBRail, CEN);

-       create conditions for members of Technology Platform (TP) in R&D activities, for participation in consortia of national projects (Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TACR), Czech Science Foundation) and international projects (Horizon2020, Shift2Rail) focused on needs of TP members

Activities of Expert Group are concentrated on the following fields:

a)        Preparation and organization of workshops and training activities in the field of infrastructure subsystem

b)        Support the preparation and implementation of projects focused on efficient and sustainable transport infrastructure with regard to environmental impacts

c)         Cooperation with foreign partners  – Spanish Railway Technology Platform (PTFE/FFE), University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, University of Birmingham

d)        Participation in international conferences and exhibitions (CETRA, Railway Infrastructure Administration, INNOTRANS etc.)

e)        Support for internships (TU Dresden, ZU in Zilina, TU Vilnius, Newcastle University, TU Madrid, TU Bilbao, TU Zagreb etc.)

Manager

Otto Plášek, Assoc. Prof., MSc. Ph.D.

Deputy of the Manager

Leoš Horníček, MSc. Ph.D.

Members

 Ivan Vukušič, MSc., Ph.D.

Ondřej Jiroušek, Prof., MSc., Ph.D.

Hana Krejčiříková, Assoc. Prof., MSc., Ph.D.

Danuše Marusičová, MSc.

Zbyněk Mynář, MSc.

Marek Pětioký, MSc.

Miroslav Procházka, MSc.

Tomáš Říha, MSc.

Marek Smolka, MSc., MBA

Richard Svoboda, MSc., Ph.D.

Filip Ševčík, MSc.

Radek Trejtnar, MSc., Ph.D.

Jan Valehrach, MSc.

Jan Vodička, Assoc. Prof., MSc., Ph.D.

Other Associates

Member of TP IZI

Content and Focus on Cooperation

Správa železnic, státní organizace (Railway Infrastructure Administration, RIA)

Projects of Technology Development RIA

Centre for Effective and Sustainable Transport Infrastructure (CESTI) – TACR

Czech Technical University in Prague

Czech Technology Agency projects:

Centre for Effective and Sustainable Transport Infrastructure (CESTI)

Increasing the quality of track in switches by flexibility

Projects of Technology Development RIA

DT - Výhybkárna a strojírna, a.s. (DT)

Shift2Rail (Horizon2020) – S-CODE (Switch and Crossing Optimal Design and Evaluation)

Czech Technology Agency projects:

Centre for Effective and Sustainable Transport Infrastructure (CESTI)

Increasing the quality of track in switches by flexibility

Operational Assessment of Track Quality

ŽPSV a.s.

Czech Technology Agency projects:

Under Sleeper Pads

Development of new types of prestressed concrete sleepers for high speed lines

VUZ a.s.

Projects of Technology Development RIA

SKANSKA a.s.

Czech Technology Agency projects:

Centre for Effective and Sustainable Transport Infrastructure (CESTI)

University of Pardubice

Shift2Rail (Horizon2020) – S-CODE (Switch and Crossing Optimal Design and Evaluation)

Brno University of Technology

Shift2Rail (Horizon2020) – S-CODE (Switch and Crossing Optimal Design and Evaluation)

Czech Technology Agency projects:

Centre for Effective and Sustainable Transport Infrastructure (CESTI)

Track quality improvement in Switches and Crossings due to the Increased Elasticity

Projects of Technology Development RIA

Shift2Rail, Open Call, IP3

see www.s-code.info

Goal/Project Benefits:

Switches and crossings are the essential elements of railway lines. In 2016, the S-CODE (Switch and Crossing Optimal Design and Evaluation, Shift2Rail) project was initiated, which seeks radically new ways of changing trains between tracks concerning the growing capacity and reliability. The fundamental objective of the research activity at this stage was to find reliable and robust designs with low life-cycle costs, low carbon footprint and low maintenance. The use of new materials, manufacturing processes, electronic equipment, signal processing and mechatronic solutions were investigated.

Project Title/Acronym:

Centre for Effective and Sustainable Transport

Infrastructure (CESTI)

Project No.:

TE01020168

Implementation Period:

2013–2019

Funded by:

Technology Agency of the Czech Republic,

Competence Centres program

Beneficiary:

Czech Technical University in Prague

Consortium: 

see www.cesti.cz

Goal/Project Benefits:

Centre for Effective and Sustainable Transport Infrastructure (CESTI) is a project focused on technical innovations aimed at elimination of deficiencies in today’s transport infrastructure. It deals with road and railway transport network including bridges and tunnels. Environmental issues, aspects of safety and reliability of structures and effective management systems are addressed comprehensively. The project responds to the requirements for cost efficient, material and energy sustainable, resilient, reliable, smart and accessible transport infrastructure.

Project Title/Acronym: 

Increasing the quality of track in switches by

 flexibility

Project No.:

TA01031297

Implementation Period: 

2011–2015

Funded by:

Technology Agency of the Czech Republic,

Alfa program 

Beneficiary:

DT – Výhybkárna a strojírna, a.s.

Consortium: 

Czech Technical University in Prague

Brno University of Technology

Goal/Project Benefits:

Railway turnout is from the nature of its functions critical point of the railway track from the view of dynamic effects due to the passage of vehicles. Limitation of these effects between the vehicles wheels and rails is the most effective way to improve the quality of rail service on the vehicle side, track and passengers (durability, reliability, operating costs and functional parameters such as speed, noise, safety, power consumption, travel comfort). Therefore, the project focuses on the design of technical solutions of the turnout construction with the elastic fastening system with variations for gravel ballast and slab track, the review and verification of prescribed laboratory tests to 12/2012 and the validation in the track, including the measurement, which is expected to be finished by the end of 2015. Outputs must meet the requirements for interoperability by the TSI, EN and certificates. Solution will be used in the SŽDC and ŽSR network and for export activities.

Organization of workshops

2014:

• Concrete bearers and ballastless track
• Design of railway infrastructure in compliance with Technical specification of interoperability – Persons with reduced mobility 

2015:

• Switches and Crossings. Rail failures and defects
• Test methods and assessment of railway infrastructure
• Construction of interoperable railway tunnels
• Summer technology school for Ph.D. students

 2016:

• Track alignment 

2017:

• Repair and maintenance of railway tracks
• Evaluation of dynamic effects in the track
• News in the field of interoperability assessment 

2019

• Description of Czech railway track network
• Construction technology of construction of pilot sections of high speed lines in the Czech Republic

Representation in European institutes and working groups

Working groups CER:

-         WG Infrastructure

-         WG Dynamic Behaviour of RST

-         WG Safety in Railway Tunnels;

-         WG Register of Railway Infrastructure

-          WG Persons with Reduced Mobility

Working groups CEN TC 256 Railway applications, SC 1:

-         WG 15 Track Design Parameters

-         WG 16 Sleepers and Bearers

-         WG 18 Switches and Crossings

-         WG 21 Acceptance of Track Works

-         WG 28 Track Geometry Quality

-         WG 32 Gauges

-         WG 46 Ballastless Track

-         SG Track Bridge Interaction

NB Rail

Support for the preparation and implementation of projects

Preparation and implementation of projects:

• Czech Technology Agency, Transport 2020+, Turnout 4.0
• Shift2Rail S2R-0C-IP3-01-2020: Next Generation Track Transition Zones
• Shift2Rail S2R-OC-IPX-01-2020: Innovation in guided transpor

      Informative workshop:

• Legislation and organization of R&D in the Czech Republic
• Information resources for science and research
• Evaluation of R&D in the Czech Republic