Virtual Track

Every maintenance measure generates huge amounts of data on infrastructure, geometry and operational parameters. For our customers, we turn this information into smart data. Life cycle management and assessments according to RAM (Reliability, Availability and Maintainability) require this source.

Operators are under increasing pressure to reduce maintenance costs and time windows, as the availability of the line makes the railway competitive with other modes of transportation. We are already working on the virtual track. It creates new opportunities of cooperation between track maintenance machines and the infrastructure. The quality of the works performed can be immediately inspected by the customer. The number of people in the danger zone is reduced. Works can be inspected from safe offices. The combination of trends and intelligent assessment methods makes it possible to analyse and recommend predictive maintenance actions for the track infrastructure.

Since spring 2018, Plasser & Theurer has been operating the EM100VT. It is the first separate testing vehicle for track inspection. VT stands for virtual track. The vehicle provides a carrier platform for developing and testing new measuring systems, making it an important basis for product development.