Policy to Reduce the Sand Migration of the Tavantolgoi-Zuunbayan Railway Line of Mongolia

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Sand migration caused by wind erosion in the Gobi Desert poses a major challenge to railway operations in southern Mongolia. The Tavantolgoi–Zuunbayan railway line, crossing 416 kilometers of arid terrain, frequently experiences sand accumulation on tracks, leading to service delays, infrastructure degradation, and increased maintenance costs.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• CONTENTS
• CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION 1
• CHAPTER II. LITERATURE REVIEW 8
• 2.1 Sand migration and its effects on railway infrastructure 8
• 2.2 International Sand Control Strategies 14
• 2.3 Existing Mongolian Strategies for Sand Control 15
• 2.3.1 The Green Belt Program 15
• 2.3.2 The “Green Gobi” Project 15
• 2.3.3 Elsen Tasarkhai Research Station 16
• 2.4 Gaps in Research 16
• 2.5 Conclusion 16
• CHAPTER III. SAND MIGRATION SITUATION ON THE TAVANTOLGOI-ZUUNBAYAN RAILWAY 17
• 3.1.1 Total Sand Clearance Time (2023–2024) 17
• 3.1.2 Machinery and equipment limitations 17
• 3.1.3 Maintenance Costs and Economic Burden 18
• 3.1.4 Labor wages (based on hourly rates × time worked) by sand migration and the reliance on manual 18
• 3.1.5 Labor Cost Analysis for Manual Sand Removal (2023–2024) 19
• 3.1.6 Track Machinery Crew Wages for Sand Removal Operations 19
• 3.1.7 Equipment operation and maintenance 20
• 3.1.8 Delays or disruptions in railway operations (economic cost of delays) 20
• 3.2.1 Experience in Sand Protection on the Linhe-Seke Railway Line /PRC/ 22
• 3.2.2 Experience in Sand Protection of the China Qinghai–Tibet Railway 23
• 3.2.4 Experience in Sand Protection in Central Asia 25
• CHAPTER IV. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 27
• CHAPTER V. PROPOSED SOLUTIONS 31
• 5.3.1 Comparative Cost Analysis 39
• 5.3.2 Return on Investment (ROI) 39
• 5.3.3 Funding and Institutional Support 40
• 5.3.4 Strategic Efficiency 40
• CHAPTER VI. CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATIONS 41
• 6.1.1 Impact of Sand Migration on Mongolia’s Railway System 41
• 6.1.2 Implementation Roadmap 41
• 6.1.3 Future Research Needs 42