In-service trial for DB track monitoring system
Chiltern Railways DVT to be fitted-out for tests.
NETWORK Rail will assess the suitability of a continuous track monitoring system by trialling it on board a train which is in passenger service.
The DB Systemtechnik CTM2.0 equipment will be installed on a Chiltern Railways Mk.3 Driving Van Trailer (DVT) by DB ESG to gather track data between London Marylebone and Birmingham.
DB Systemtechnik will monitor the equipment remotely for the duration of the trial, analysing data and supplying it to Network Rail (NR) with reports on the current track status and predictions of future conditions.
Wider trial
It is part of a wider trial being led by NR’s Research & Development team which will assess systems from eight different suppliers for in-service track measurement and monitoring and the feasibility of using them alongside traditional track monitoring trains.
NR will assess the effectiveness of the DB technology in helping to reduce the number of track issues and their impact on services, along with the detection of potential problems early enough to allow preventative maintenance.
The equipment, fitted into an enclosure on board the
DVT, will be linked to external sensors monitoring information including longitudinal level, track twist, dynamic alignment, ride comfort, speed and the vehicle’s motion response. It will be relayed via an external antenna to a computer system for storage and the generation of reports.