Economic Prerequisites for Assessing the Scope of Application of Transport Engineering Structures
[For the English full text of the article please see the attached PDF-File (English version follows Russian version)].The objective of the study is to search for effective design solutions while expanding the passenger transportat ion network through high-speed rai l development. Engineering structures, which occupy a significant part in the infrastructure of high-speed lines, require a revision of approaches to economic and feasibility evaluation of design solutions. The economic problems associated with the design process of HSR are considered, as due to different conditions and standards in divers countries, it became necessary to adapt design solutions through economic feasibility studies. The topicality of the problems of optimization of structures is due to the significant amount of work that can be initiated with the expected start of development of separate high-speed rail lines in Russia. The research significance consists in updating traditional approaches of the feasibility study in relation to the new tasks of railw ay construction. The study was based on publications of domestic and foreign researchers in the field of railway infrastructure. For cost analysis, a standard costing methodology was used based on the estimated regulatory base. The cost comparison of options is presented in the sample cost structure, which methodically contributes to allocation of compared costs. The main practical result of the work is deemed to be associated with formalization of the cost function of modern engineering structures for HSR. Choosing the embankment or overpass, the task which is traditional for railways, was solved on the basis of the analysis of the applied design solutions. For the roadbed, modern reinforcement methods necessary for track stability have been considered. When analyzing the estimated costs for construction of spans, significant disparities were revealed between promising technologies and resource-technological models traditionally used for standard quotations. This casts doubt on the possibility of using traditional approaches of application of engineering structures in HSR projects. To justify the design and technological solutions for high-speed transport, a whole range of work is needed to jointly develop both technological schemes and cost standards. As far as Russian example is concerned, the current budget and regulatory framework does not allow for reliable economic feasibility justification of the scope of application of engineering structures.