'Self-correcting' railway track could reduce wear and tear

New research project to look at ways of reducing costs on the rail network

Smart railway tracks that completely avoid the need for switch rails, or that could monitor themselves for damage and self-adjust over time to compensate for normal wear and tear, could emerge from a €18 million pan-European research project announced today.

The European Union has given the go ahead for the six-year Shift2Rail initiative which is tasked with boosting the capacity of railway networks to cope with soaring demand, increasing the reliability of rail services and making big reductions in costs.

Three themed research programmes will take place: Roll2Rail, which will cover rolling stock; IT2Rail, which deals with information technology; and In2Rail, which investigates track and infrastructure. The projects will be led by the UK’s Network Rail and Swedish railway administrator Trafikverket.

The University of Huddersfield’s Institute for Railway Research is one of 55 partners taking part in the €18 million In2Rail programme, and has been awarded key roles in two of its work packages - one that investigates novel switches and crossings and another that looks at possibilities for new kinds of track system.

The IRR’s head of research, Dr Yann Bezin, said that the team would effectively be starting with a blank sheet of paper, as if railways were a completely new concept, without their long history.

“We will trying to do something radically different and eliminate as much as possible the failure modes that are associated with the existing system.”

For example, the IRR had been in talks with a number of partners over new rail principles that completely avoided switch rails as they are commonly used, which are exceptionally prone to damage.

Also under investigation will be the potential for smart tracks embedded with sensor technology and mechatronics that enable them to monitor for damage and self-adjust over time to compensate for normal wear and tear. This would remove maintenance staff from the tracks, reduce disruption and fully enable 24-hour freight operation.

“It is difficult, but it is achievable with smart systems and smart structures. And if you do have to suspend services, you only do it when it is absolutely necessary, plan it in advance and get in and out quickly,” said Professor Simon Iwnicki, director of the IRR.

Among the research institutions working closely with the University of Huddersfield’s IRR on Shift2Rail is Loughborough University, which has special expertise in control systems. The IRR’s capacity for computer modelling will enable it to use simulation techniques in order to test the efficacy of some of the radically new systems being proposed.