IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/nathaz/v120y2024i4d10.1007_s11069-023-06321-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of storms on rail transport: a case study from Czechia

Author

Listed:
  • Vojtěch Nezval

    (CDV – Transport Research Centre)

  • Richard Andrášik

    (CDV – Transport Research Centre)

  • Michal Bíl

    (CDV – Transport Research Centre)

Abstract

Storms (thunderstorms or windstorms) are common meteorological phenomena in Europe. They produce rain, lightning, strong winds or hail and are capable of causing serious failures in rail transport. We identified 14,786 incidents associated with storms, which took place on the Czech rail network between 2002 and 2021. This represented 5% of all reported rail incidents in Czechia over the monitored period. Using the exact binomial test and a grid covering each combination of month and hour, we found that these incidents were concentrated between May and August in the early morning and afternoon hours. Most of the rail problems were concentrated on only a small number of days, indicating the significant impact of severe storms. The incidents (82%) were associated with rail device failures and/or power outages, such as malfunctions of switches, signals or communication and safety devices. In addition, tree falls on rail infrastructure were also common. The total train delay time exceeded 3917 h, and in some cases rail traffic was even completely disrupted. Based on the findings, which provide unique insight into the impacts of storms on railways, mitigation measures are discussed. This is particularly important given climate change, which may lead to an increased likelihood of severe weather and associated damage in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Vojtěch Nezval & Richard Andrášik & Michal Bíl, 2024. "Impact of storms on rail transport: a case study from Czechia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(4), pages 3189-3212, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:120:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s11069-023-06321-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-023-06321-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11069-023-06321-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11069-023-06321-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Philip Bubeck & Lisa Dillenardt & Lorenzo Alfieri & Luc Feyen & Annegret H. Thieken & Patric Kellermann, 2019. "Global warming to increase flood risk on European railways," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 19-36, July.
    2. Claus Doll & Christian Trinks & Norbert Sedlacek & Verena Pelikan & Tina Comes & Frank Schultmann, 2014. "Adapting rail and road networks to weather extremes: case studies for southern Germany and Austria," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 72(1), pages 63-85, May.
    3. Birch, Colin P.D. & Oom, Sander P. & Beecham, Jonathan A., 2007. "Rectangular and hexagonal grids used for observation, experiment and simulation in ecology," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 206(3), pages 347-359.
    4. Sonja Szymczak & Frederick Bott & Pierre Babeck & Annett Frick & Benjamin Stöckigt & Kathrin Wagner, 2022. "Estimating the hazard of tree fall along railway lines: a new GIS tool," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 112(3), pages 2237-2258, July.
    5. Rolf Nyberg & Magnus Johansson, 2013. "Indicators of road network vulnerability to storm-felled trees," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 69(1), pages 185-199, October.
    6. Johanna Ludvigsen & Ronny Klæboe, 2014. "Extreme weather impacts on freight railways in Europe," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 70(1), pages 767-787, January.
    7. Shield, Stephen A. & Quiring, Steven M. & Pino, Jordan V. & Buckstaff, Ken, 2021. "Major impacts of weather events on the electrical power delivery system in the United States," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    8. Brazil, William & White, Arthur & Nogal, Maria & Caulfield, Brian & O'Connor, Alan & Morton, Craig, 2017. "Weather and rail delays: Analysis of metropolitan rail in Dublin," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 69-76.
    9. Andrea Vajda & Heikki Tuomenvirta & Ilkka Juga & Pertti Nurmi & Pauli Jokinen & Jenni Rauhala, 2014. "Severe weather affecting European transport systems: the identification, classification and frequencies of events," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 72(1), pages 169-188, May.
    10. Kabir, Elnaz & Guikema, Seth & Kane, Brian, 2018. "Statistical modeling of tree failures during storms," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 68-79.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Zhipeng & Lin, Chen-Yu, 2025. "Risk analysis of weather-related railroad accidents in the United States," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    2. Sonja Szymczak & Frederick Bott & Pierre Babeck & Annett Frick & Benjamin Stöckigt & Kathrin Wagner, 2022. "Estimating the hazard of tree fall along railway lines: a new GIS tool," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 112(3), pages 2237-2258, July.
    3. Denis Maragno & Michele Dalla Fontana & Francesco Musco, 2020. "Mapping Heat Stress Vulnerability and Risk Assessment at the Neighborhood Scale to Drive Urban Adaptation Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Gilberto Santo & Mathijs Peeters & Wim Van Paepegem & Joris Degroote, 2020. "Fluid–Structure Interaction Simulations of a Wind Gust Impacting on the Blades of a Large Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Kim, Suji & Lee, Sujin & Ko, Eunjeong & Jang, Kitae & Yeo, Jiho, 2021. "Changes in car and bus usage amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Relationship with land use and land price," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    6. Pacheco de Castro Flores Ribeiro, Paulo & Osório de Barros de Lima e Santos, José Manuel & Prudêncio Rafael Canadas, Maria João & Contente de Vinha Novais, Ana Maria & Ribeiro Ferraria Moreira, Franci, 2021. "Explaining farming systems spatial patterns: A farm-level choice model based on socioeconomic and biophysical drivers," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    7. Muluneh Legesse Edamo & Samuel Dagalo Hatiye & Thomas T. Minda & Tigistu Yisihak Ukumo, 2023. "Flood inundation and risk mapping under climate change scenarios in the lower Bilate catchment, Ethiopia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 118(3), pages 2199-2226, September.
    8. Dimos Touloumidis & Michael Madas & Vasileios Zeimpekis & Georgia Ayfantopoulou, 2025. "Weather-Related Disruptions in Transportation and Logistics: A Systematic Literature Review and a Policy Implementation Roadmap," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-28, February.
    9. Goldshtein, Eitan & Soroker, Victoria & Sadeh, Asaf & Cohen, Yafit, 2025. "Canary palms in rural areas as invasion bridges: Exploring simulated red palm weevil spread across date palm plantations," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 503(C).
    10. Francesca Peroni & Guglielmo Pristeri & Daniele Codato & Salvatore Eugenio Pappalardo & Massimo De Marchi, 2019. "Biotope Area Factor: An Ecological Urban Index to Geovisualize Soil Sealing in Padua, Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    11. Štěpán Kavan & Olga Dvořáčková & Jiří Pokorný & Lenka Brumarová, 2021. "Long-Term Power Outage and Preparedness of the Population of a Region in the Czech Republic—A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-14, November.
    12. Jue Wang & Mei-Po Kwan & Yanwei Chai, 2018. "An Innovative Context-Based Crystal-Growth Activity Space Method for Environmental Exposure Assessment: A Study Using GIS and GPS Trajectory Data Collected in Chicago," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-24, April.
    13. Oliveira, Renata Lúcia Magalhães de & Dablanc, Laetitia & Schorung, Matthieu, 2022. "Changes in warehouse spatial patterns and rental prices: Are they related? Exploring the case of US metropolitan areas," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    14. Sungsoo Yoon & Youngjoo Moon & Jinah Jeong & Chan-Ryul Park & Wanmo Kang, 2021. "A Network-Based Approach for Reducing Pedestrian Exposure to PM 2.5 Induced by Road Traffic in Seoul," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-14, October.
    15. Christopher T. Emrich & Yao Zhou & Sanam K. Aksha & Herbert E. Longenecker, 2022. "Creating a Nationwide Composite Hazard Index Using Empirically Based Threat Assessment Approaches Applied to Open Geospatial Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-25, February.
    16. Ciro Apollonio & Gabriele Iemmolo & Maria Di Modugno & Marianna Apollonio & Andrea Petroselli & Fabio Recanatesi & Daniele Giannetta, 2025. "A Multi-Parameter Approach to Support Sustainable Hydraulic Risk Analysis for the Protection of Transportation Infrastructure: The Case Study of the Gargano Railways (Southern Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-24, May.
    17. Boura, Georgia & Ferguson, Neil S., 2024. "Incorporating geographic interdependencies into the resilience assessment of multimodal public transport networks," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    18. Maria Fabrizia Clemente, 2022. "The Future Impacts of ESL Events in Euro-Mediterranean Coastal Cities: The Coast-RiskBySea Model to Assess the Potential Economic Damages in Naples, Marseille and Barcelona," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-22, August.
    19. Sui Zhang & Minghao Wang & Zhao Yang & Baolei Zhang, 2021. "A Novel Predictor for Micro-Scale COVID-19 Risk Modeling: An Empirical Study from a Spatiotemporal Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-16, December.
    20. Ryzhkov, Alexander & Sarzhan, Yuliya, 2020. "Market initiative and central planning: A study of the Moscow bus network," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:120:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s11069-023-06321-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.