Fire modelling of passenger trains
type: CreativeWork
description: ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Train fires continue to pose a significant threat both internationally and in South Africa, particularly with the increasing prevalence of emerging hazards such as lithium-ion battery devices carried by passengers. With the introduction of the new X’Trapolis Mega fleet, it is essential to evaluate fire safety performance when exposed to both conventional and emerging hazards to ensure sufficient time is available for safe evacuation. This study investigates fire growth and tenability conditions in a single passenger carriage through numerical modelling using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). Generic material properties have been incorporated to broaden the applicability of the results and offer adaptability for future specifications. Eight fire scenarios were developed, ranging from traditional luggage fires and arson to lithium-ion powered devices such as tablets, e-bikes, and e-scooters. The models were assessed in terms of heat release rate development, flashover potential, and available safe egress time at both 1.5 m and 0.9 m above the floor level, representing typical standing and crawling breathing zones. The results demonstrate that conventional luggage fires provide up to 5 min of evacuation time, with flashover occurring after approximately 8 min. In contrast, arson resulted in untenable conditions within 30 s at 1.5 m and flashover within 5 min after ignition. Lithium-ion devices showed variable performance: small fires from devices such as e-cigarettes and tablets pose limited threat with no significant fire spread and subsequently no flashover. Larger e-mobility devices presented significant hazards, with the e-bike fire scenario resulting in impaired evacuation in less than 40 s at 1.5 m and reaching flashover in 5 min 23 s. The seated e-scooter presented the most severe scenario, with impaired evacuation in under 20 s at 1.5 m and flashover after 3 min 22 s. Overall, the study shows that while the new X’Trapolis carriage adheres to stri…
abstract: ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Train fires continue to pose a significant threat both internationally and in South Africa, particularly with the increasing prevalence of emerging hazards such as lithium-ion battery devices carried by passengers. With the introduction of the new X’Trapolis Mega fleet, it is essential to evaluate fire safety performance when exposed to both conventional and emerging hazards to ensure sufficient time is available for safe evacuation. This study investigates fire growth and tenability conditions in a single passenger carriage through numerical modelling using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). Generic material properties have been incorporated to broaden the applicability of the results and offer adaptability for future specifications. Eight fire scenarios were developed, ranging from traditional luggage fires and arson to lithium-ion powered devices such as tablets, e-bikes, and e-scooters. The models were assessed in terms of heat release rate development, flashover potential, and available safe egress time at both 1.5 m and 0.9 m above the floor level, representing typical standing and crawling breathing zones. The results demonstrate that conventional luggage fires provide up to 5 min of evacuation time, with flashover occurring after approximately 8 min. In contrast, arson resulted in untenable conditions within 30 s at 1.5 m and flashover within 5 min after ignition. Lithium-ion devices showed variable performance: small fires from devices such as e-cigarettes and tablets pose limited threat with no significant fire spread and subsequently no flashover. Larger e-mobility devices presented significant hazards, with the e-bike fire scenario resulting in impaired evacuation in less than 40 s at 1.5 m and reaching flashover in 5 min 23 s. The seated e-scooter presented the most severe scenario, with impaired evacuation in under 20 s at 1.5 m and flashover after 3 min 22 s. Overall, the study shows that while the new X’Trapolis carriage adheres to stri…
author: Becker, Yoshua
language: en
date published: 2025-12
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:40:12Z
provider: Stellenbosch University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University