Sensitivity enriched multi-criterion decision making process for novel railway switches and crossings ? a case study

Abstract Background Despite their important role in railway operations, switches and crossings (S&C) have changed little since conception over a century ago. It stands now that the existing designs for S&C are reaching maximum point of incremental performance improvement, only radical redesign can overcome constraints current imposing on network capacity. This paper describes process producing novel next generation crossings, as part S-CODE project. Methods Given many aspects govern successful design, it is critical to adopt multi criteria decision making (MCDM) processes identify specific solution crossings. However, common shortcoming these methods results be heavily influenced by external factors, such uncertainty criterium weighting or bias evaluators, example. therefore proposes based Pugh Matrix method reduce biases using sensitivity analysis investigate them improve reliability making. Results In this paper, we analysed influences three different measuring ranking due (a) weightings, (b) organisational (c) discipline bias. The order preference was disturbed minimum while small were detected. Conclusions Through case study, believe demonstrates an effective study quantitative