VR FleetCare’s Collaboration with the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency Continues with Track Circuit Measurements
The collaboration aims to build and improve the overall condition monitoring of track equipment. Track circuits are one of the important factors in the bigger picture of track equipment.
VR FleetCare’s collaboration on the development of condition monitoring with the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency continues in the light of previous good results. This next phase will focus on track circuit monitoring on the track sections with lesser traffic volumes. The purpose of this project is to monitor the operability of track circuits on the low-volume track sections under normal operating conditions, measured during a longer period of time.
“Looking into this phenomenon, we aim to develop new methods to improve the reliability and operability of the track circuits on the low-volume track sections.”
Measurements of this project will be carried out in two different locations over a period of 6–8 months. Longer measurement period will provide valuable information on different factors, including the impact of weather conditions and traffic, possibly even electrical phenomena that has not yet been detected. The project will be carried out by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency and VR FleetCare, with Vire Labs operating as VR FleetCare’s partner in device provisioning.
By collecting and analysing data, methods to improve the functionality and reliability of track circuits situated on the low-volume track sections will be developed. The observations made from the measurement data will assist with more timely scheduling of maintenance work, aiming to avoid possible traffic disruptions.
VR FleetCare has systematically worked to develop and improve track equipment condition monitoring together with its partners. Key benefits of condition monitoring include prevention of and faster recovery from traffic disruptions, creating control over quality, improving efficiency, and the possibility to use real data to drive investment decisions.
Precise monitoring and proactive maintenance operation enable the early detection of defects and efficient targeting of maintenance work, preventing the emergence of defects. In addition to maintenance work, data collected with condition monitoring measurements can also be implemented in the planning phase of investments. Data collection and utilisation can assist in making decisions in ever-changing situations and enable the best maintenance planning for each asset, individually and dynamically.
This article was originally published by VR FleetCare.
