Application of the life cycle cost analysis technique to explore design and maintenance solutions for railway lines in windblown sandy deserts: the aus-lüderitz railway line case study

Abstract

The operation and maintenance of railway lines built in sandy deserts in Namibia are significantly affected by the deposit of windblown sand on the railway lines. This has necessitated the need to explore robust and economically justifiable technical solutions to mitigate the sand problem on railway lines, to ensure reliability, availability, and safety performance. The challenge for decision-makers has been a lack of context-developed infrastructure design options and technical maintenance solutions to sustainably address this challenge. The rationale of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of different rail design and maintenance options to address the challenge of windblown sand on railway lines passing through the Namib Desert, by applying the life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) method, as an engineering economic tool. The study identified and reviewed multiple designs and technical maintenance solutions using the LCCA method to determine and recommend the most cost-effective and best-practice strategy to mitigate the adverse consequences of sand deposits on railway lines. The study identified the humped slab track as the most viable solution for railway sections where the dune belts do not cross the railway line. On sections where strong sandstorms frequently cause the accumulation of sand on the railway lines, the LCCA results found the Tubular Track (TT) system as the most viable and cost-effective solution compared to other options.