Railways simply explained
25. 07. 2019
We leave nothing to chance. We pull out all the stops to ensure our customers’ goods reach their destinations safely and reliably. In this article, you will find out what technical safety devices support us in this endeavour and what tasks a train-running checkpoint performs.
Safe goods transport takes top priority, which is why our trains are under constant observation. And this is done from the very outset, as soon as the goods are loaded onto the wagons. After all, safe transport starts at the loading stage.
Consistent compliance with the loading guidelines is critical in this regard, which is why our transport consultants show our customers and loading agents how to do things properly during ongoing training courses.
Before each train departs, a wagon technician performs a technical inspection of the wagons. A special vehicle inspector also checks the wagons’ condition and the load safety with the utmost care.
If a train is on the move, special measuring systems – known as ‘train-running checkpoints’ – observe our freight trains throughout the journey and sound the alarm if irregularities occur and safety could be jeopardised as a result.
These train-running checkpoints are an infrastructural facility available to all railway undertakings. More information: infrastruktur.oebb.at
The state-of-the-art systems are equipped with sensors designed to measure the load and wheel force as well as derailment and impact detectors. What’s more, the temperature of wagons’ axle bearings, brake discs and wheel rims is measured too. Network cameras consistently monitor the train’s profile from all sides – from the left, from the right, from above and diagonally from the side. The system measures wheel loads in the speed range from 5 to 250 km/h, for example. If a train-running checkpoint detects irregularities as a train is passing, the train service control room immediately receives an alert and contacts the driver of the train in question. The Infrastructure department of Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) will construct a total of 47 new train-running checkpoints by 2023 for this very purpose. In so doing, it will ultimately be operating one of Europe’s largest train monitoring equipment projects. Eight systems are currently in trial operation.
