Self-monitoring turnout research targets safety and reliability

CZECH REPUBLIC: Track component manufacturer DT-Výhybkárna a strojírna has launched a three-year research project aimed at developing an ‘autonomous turnout’ which can monitor its own condition and predict any problems before they can cause a failure.

Emphasising that turnouts are among the most heavily stressed infrastructure components, the Prostějov-based company explained that its ultimate goal was ‘to create a system capable of continuously monitoring the technical condition of railway turnouts’ and indicating the need for maintenance intervention. It believes that such a diagnostic system could be deployed on both conventional and high speed lines, reducing the impact of insp…