Railway project aims to reduce impact of leaves on the track
Salford University researchers are working on a project to mitigate the impact of leaves on the line during train journeys.
According to Salford, leaves — plus snow and rain — cause problems for trains because they reduce traction and cause wheels to spin on acceleration, or to lock when slowing down.
Wheel slip/slide protection (WSP) measures in traction and braking systems are currently used to overcome the problems, but do not give instant data about the conditions of the track to the drivers and train operators.
Consequently, drivers rely on rough estimates based on weather reports or track-side sensors that tell them to drive more carefully.
Salford scientists are working on a solution using sensors on the train that will show contact characteristics and conditions of the track, including the maximum adhesion available in real time.
The information obtained can not only be used by drivers to determine the maximum acceleration or braking forces they can apply, but also to enhance the advanced control and condition monitoring for trains of the future that are also being researched by the scientists at Salford.
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