GOTCHA®: track-based monitoring system
The modern intelligent railway relies on sophisticated
monitoring systems to allow informed decision making on asset
management actions - especially in maintenance and renewals
activities. Effective measurement systems coupled with robust post
analysis and decision support gives a real advantage.
How we can help
The Gotcha system was developed jointly by Lloyd's Register and
the Dutch engineering company Baas R&D. It provides valuable
information about a train giving many benefits to operators and
infrastructure managers.
The Gotcha system's wheel defect detection module detects every
wheel of each passing train by means of track mounted optical
sensors. The measured data is processed by an advanced calculation
programme and combined with the identification tag of a locomotive
or a coach to determine precisely which wheels are damaged - and to
what degree. With this information, maintenance systems can be
changed from corrective to condition-based.
The Gotcha system's in-motion weighing module determines the
weight of a passing train and permits automated infrastructure
charging based on actual train tonnage and mileage. Optional
plug-ins to the Gotcha system, such as pantograph monitoring, axle
bearing monitoring and sound measurements are currently under
development.
What are the benefits?
- Well maintained wheels last longer. In many cases, wheels can
last 25 to 40% longer resulting in increased cost savings. In
addition, perfectly round wheels are essential for the preservation
of bogies since wheels that are flattened to any degree give rise
to rattling wheelsets and thus rapid wear, leading to considerably
higher maintenance and replacement costs.
- Up-to-date information provied by Gotcha enables maintenance of
rolling stock according to its condition. This vastly improves the
operational reliability of the stock.
- Weather conditions in the autumn can contribute to delays when
rain and leaves on the track combined with 'square' wheels cause
slipperiness. Using Gotcha derived data, problem wheels can be
recognised in time, attention can be prioritised and the
utilisation of wheel lathes can be managed.
- Based on Gotcha data, the utilisation of track and switches can
be monitored. This information can be used for usage-based
maintenance thereby saving maintenance costs and improving the
reliability of track and switches.
Recent projects
- Following its rollout in the Netherlands, the Gotcha system is
also in use or under trial with eight other administrations across
Europe. These include a network trial in Sweden and operational
stations in Poland and Switzerland.
- The Gotcha system has also been selected as the preferred
system to provide data throughout the UK for Network Rail's
Intelligent Infrastructure architecture scheme.
- Two Gotcha stations have been placed along slab track sections
of the newly-built high speed line, HSL-Zuid, between Amsterdam and
Paris. Track maintenance is contracted for the next 25 years and
Gotcha will be used for asset protection. Gotcha data will also be
used to help maintain rolling stock.
What next?
If you would like to progress your enquiry further please choose
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