Improvement of the Feasibility Study of Investment Projects Aimed at Increasing the Throughput and Carrying Capacity of Railway

Increasing the efficiency and improving the quality of railway transport operations largely depends on the validity of investment projects for its development. However, the existing techniques for the feasibility study of investment projects aimed at increasing the throughput and carrying capacity of railroad sections are summarized and do not take into account some features of the evaluation of project activities. The weakest link in the feasibility study of the projects under study is the determination of cost parameters for the formation of the cash flow of the investment project. In the existing methodological provisions, only a description of the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the project based on the calculated cost indicators is provided, therefore they can be identified as universal for all types of projects. They lack clear calculation algorithms (the exception is the cost of construction), recommendations, assumptions that need to be taken into account in the form of uncertainty in primary information and the structural changes that have taken place in recent years in the work of railways. Therefore, with the help of logical-analytical, systemic and other campaigns, the authors developed an algorithm (methodology) that can be used to select an effective method for organizing the movement of cargo flows along sections of the railway network, and the application, which is intended to facilitate a more justified choice of priority measures for the development of the railway infrastructure.