An overview of rolling stock and track monitoring systems and guidelines to provide safety of heavy and long train operation in the Russian Railways

Abstract

An analysis of statistics on derailment of freight trains in the Russian Railways is carried out. Some results of simulation of vehicle—track interaction and experimental studies on moving of empty cars along track sections with diverse combination of horizontal and vertical irregularities are presented. An overview of guidelines to provide safety of heavy and long train operation is also presented. Technical means of rolling stock and track condition monitoring that is used and developing in the Russian Railways is described. Existing and developing wayside and on-board automated monitoring systems enabling continuous control over moving rolling stock and track are discussed. To provide safety of heavy haul operation, a general concept of a complex system of safety management based on monitoring of rolling stock and track is suggested.