Analytical Method for Modifying Compound Curves on Railway Lines

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article concerns the modification of compound curves, i.e. geometric systems consisting of two (or more) circular arcs of different radii, directed in the same direction and connected directly with each other. These curves are used when connecting two route directions with one circular arc is impossible due to permanent terrain obstacles. An analytical method of designing geometric systems of the track was used, in which individual elements of these systems are described by means of mathematical equations. Before it can be further considered, some improvements should be made.

• What is the overall idea of setting transition curves in the curve modification? The length of transition curves has a significant impact on vehicle dynamics performance, especially safety indicators.
• In the article, some images are too blurry, such as Figure 9. It is recommended to improve the quality of the figures.
• The modification of compound curves has a significant impact on the dynamic performance of vehicles. It is recommended to add some latest papers on wheel-rail coupling in the manuscript. For example, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2024.114274.
• The author has done a lot of work in the modification of compound curves. It is suggested to make necessary deletions in the conclusion section to showcase the innovative points and themes of the article, clarify the research significance and innovation of this article, and provide reference for other studies.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting the highly interesting article on the Analytical Method for Modifying Compound Curves 2 on Railway Lines.

The format of the article is appropriate.

The language of the article is appropriate and requires only minimal correction.
Regarding citations, it is advisable to avoid repeated references to the same source within the article. For instance, line 35 illustrates a duplicated citation of the same publication.
Self-citations should also be kept to a minimum.

There are a few aspects that require further improvement. In particular, the article should include a Conclusion section that summarizes the main points of the work. Ideally, this section would also contain an example of the practical application of the presented method.

Thank you, and I wish you continued success in your future publications.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The topic of the paper is interesting. However, there are several concerns that need to be addressed:

 

• The structure of the introduction requires improvement. It should clearly outline the background, identify the research gap, and present the proposed methods more effectively.

 

• The literature review should incorporate more recent studies. Additionally, it should include a broader range of related works to emphasize the key points and point out the significance of the proposed method.

 

• There are several typographical and grammatical errors present in the manuscript. For example, the sentence “and the parametric equations of the curve were described by the formulas given in [25]” needs revision for clarity.

 

• Regarding the choice of transition curve lengths (l3 = 40 m, 60 m, 80 m, and 100 m) for detailed analysis. It would be beneficial to clarify how these specific scales were determined.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study presents three possibilities of connecting the occurring circular arches on the railway line, guided by the criterion of the degree to which the nature of the curvature of a given curve is taken into account. The manuscript is well-prepared. Literature background is enough, Methodology is described clearly, figures and tables are understandable, and conclusions are supported by the results. I evaluate this paper highly in general; however, some aspects should be corrected.

This article refers to the analytical method of modeling compound curves on railway lines, which was presented in the earlier Author’s publication [Koc, W. “Modeling of compound curves on railway lines”. Geomatics 2025, 5(2), 21]. The method, in principle, was to serve to create the basis for subsequent modification described, i.a., in the reviewed manuscript. Such a situation is crucial for this review, so it must be better highlighted in the introduction. In my opinion, already in the first paragraph. After such correction, specific repeats of the sources, referrals to details of the method, and the lack of some elements of the method will be acceptable. So, I recommend reformulating the introduction according to the rules specified above.

The second aspect concerns to versatility of the presented method. The author is based on the regulations from Poland. Are the same or similar conditions in other countries? Could the results be useful internationally, or are some changes in the methodology needed? Please add some commentaries according to these remarks (in the last section).

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript has been improved and it can be accepted.