Fast track for rail surveys

Fraunhofer researchers are developing an optical measuring system that travels along rail tracks at night detecting obstacles far faster than current survey trains.

Survey trains carry out regular inspections to detect large and small obstacles on and near the rails, such as leaning masts or overhanging branches that constitute a potential hazard. Regular inspections are essential as the track operators are responsible for the safety of passenger trains and extra-wide loads as well as for trains operated by other rail companies. However, many of these track maintenance vehicles are not authorised to travel on high-speed routes and have to creep along at 30km/h.

On behalf of German rail operator Deutsche Bahn, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques (IPM) joined forces with FIT Engineering Network and Metronom Automation to develop a measurement system capable of working much more quickly and precisely than any available so far.