SIGNAL+DRAHT | Ausgabe 09/2014
10 years of turnout diagnostics in the high speed segment
Turnout diagnostic systems have been used for high speed transport for ten years. With long-distance transport steadily expanding, high speed lines are considered as a growth segment in passenger transport. Risen speeds combined with a high degree of utilisation lead to extremely demanding requirements to all components. For rail operators it is decisive to achieve a level of availability that is as high as possible. A turnout diagnostic system being equipped with special sensors helps to acquire the critical parameters determining the required availability. In this respect, the most important factors are a preventive detection of irregularities and their elimination even before operational restrictions or malfunctions occur. In addition, there are restricted and short maintenance time slots which need to be planned in an optimal way for their most efficient utilisation.