Meteorological risk assessment of Canadian transcontinental freight railway

Abstract

Railway transportation, integral to Canada’s supply chain, is recognized for its reliability and safety, yet its complexity introduces various risks. In this study, a meteorological risk assessment of the Canadian transcontinental freight railway is performed using a comprehensive spatial analysis. Flood (areas prone to flood risk across the province), rain (maximum daily precipitation in mm), snow (maximum snowfall in cm), minimum temperature (minimum temperature in Celsius), and wind (maximum gust speed in Km/h) have been selected as factors to generate meteorological risk maps of the Transcontinental Freight Canadian National Railway (CN) for the Saskatchewan and Ontario provinces. The study generated five integrated risk maps, varying in factor weighting approaches, including equal weight, score-based weighting, expert opinion-based Analytical Hierarchy Process, and seasonal considerations for both warm and cold seasons. These risk maps demonstrate hotspots and hazardous areas that require more attention and planning to maintain the continuity of the supply chain. The results of this study can be used to enhance safety, reduce service disruptions, and ensure the smooth operation of the railway network.