A critical analysis of the fundamentals of the automotive transport system, which evolved over more than a century, is pre­sented. It is shown that the transition to the digital and data economy requires re­vising the approaches established during the analog era. Based on the analysis, sev­eral principles and directions for improv­ing state policy in automotive transport are proposed to maximize the benefits of implementing new technologies.

It is demonstrated that the successful implementation of the railway transport development program is feasible through conditions that increase profits allocated as investment sources. The possibilities of using tax incentives for investment activi­ties at JSC “RZD” through preferential tax­ation mechanisms in the context of pub­lic-private partnerships are considered.

The significance of enhancing the safety and efficiency of ship operations amid modern developments in the maritime industry and globalization of transport flows is highlighted. The integration of ar­tificial intelligence into ergotic ship man­agement systems significantly improves monitoring, diagnostics, and control of ship systems, reducing human error and minimizing risks of accidents.

The informational support processes that enhance the efficiency of using “virtual coupling” technology within the Eastern polygon are examined. Key development directions are described, including auto­mation algorithms that improve train traffic management and line capacity. The pros­pects for implementing this technology in autonomous traction rolling stock and passenger transportation are also discussed.

It is noted that coal accounts for more than 36% of global electricity production, con­firming its demand in the modern econo­my. Countries like Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey compensate for a lack of domestic coal production through imports. Russia, along with the USA, Can­ada, Australia, and Indonesia, is among the top exporters. The challenges of coal transportation for export and solutions for maintaining Russia’s competitiveness in international markets are examined.

It is shown that in the context of fluctuating passenger flows, it is especially important to determine the parameters of train route networks with minimal operating costs and efficient use of rolling stock. Organizing group trains ensures not only accessibility of trans­port services but also reduces operational costs under declining transportation volumes. Examples of forming long-distance passenger train networks with and without grouped car­riages by destinations are discussed.

Various reconstruction options for Lock No. 15 of the Gorodetsky hydraulic node are considered. An analysis of the design norms in current documents is conduct­ed. It is proven that the project solutions for reconstructing the Gorodetsky node, which include constructing an additional chamber (No. 15a), have several critical shortcomings. An alternative solution proposed by the authors involves the cre­ation of a compensating basin.

The paper addresses the justification of requirements for reconstruction and eval­uation of transport infrastructure objects in terms of the inclination of road surfac­es and rails. The system for controlling the inclination of guide rails at various stages—input control, production, and operation—has been improved. Practical recommendations are proposed for deter­mining rail inclinations, including newly suggested standards for cross-sectional differences in rail inclinations and road surface inclinations in bridges and tun­nels.

The application of photogrammetry to assess the deformation of bar and plate elements in steel structures of lifting machinery is dis­cussed. Key issues in processing the results are analyzed, and solutions for achieving the required accuracy are proposed. Recommen­dations for standardizing permissible error values are provided. Problems encountered in assessing structural deformation states are outlined, along with approaches to address them. Several methods for assessing approx­imation accuracy are suggested.

The study aims to determine the proba­bilistic performance indicators of a cata­lytic converter during a cold engine start of a passenger car. The scientific novelty includes statistical values of CO and CH emissions in exhaust gases; fuel and air consumption; and the time and temper­ature of the catalytic converter’s activa­tion. The logarithmically normal distribu­tion law of system probabilistic indicators is proven. Values within confidence inter­vals with a 95% probability are established for use in government methodologies for evaluating the environmental indicators of catalytic converter performance in lab­oratory conditions.

It is shown that the development of ef­fective mechanisms for idea generation and nurturing technological startups in universities is a key task necessary for en­suring technological sovereignty and cre­ating a layer of small and medium-sized businesses that support the country’s economic stability amid geopolitical tur­bulence. Federal initiatives curated by the University Technological Entrepreneur­ship Platform serve as the main tool for supporting student technological projects.

On December 2, 2024, the 215th anniver­sary of the Institute of Corps of Railway Engineers, the first higher education insti­tution in Russia specializing in engineering transportation, was celebrated. Known in the 19th century as a “special institute”, it is today the St. Petersburg State University of Railway Transport named after Emperor Alexander I, having trained more than 130,000 specialists to date.