On track to autonomous track main­ten­ance

With track possessions becoming shorter and a shortage of qualified staff, infrastructure managers and contractors face major challenges. Progressive automation of track maintenance machines offers a solution. Digital products support operating staff, reduce interfaces, create process reliability, and increase the output achieved. Familiarization times and training requirements for operation go down. In addition, staff can now monitor and carry out several maintenance tasks simultaneously.

Demand for more capacity

Demand in the rail sector is increasing worldwide. In Belgium, passenger transport is forecast to grow by 9% and freight transport by 62% between 2012 and 2030. ÖBB plans to double the capacity of its main lines by 2040. Greater infrastructure availability is essential, while long diversions and rail replacement services must be minimized.

Finding staff, reducing pressure

A digitalized, highly automated tamping process reduces the workload of operating staff and delivers consistent results.

Attracting and retaining qualified staff is increasingly challenging for the railway industry. Particularly unattractive working hours make it difficult to find staff.

Plasser SmartTamping offers solutions here: automated systems control the work process, ensure quality, and unburden operating staff. Digital documentation creates added value for infrastructure managers. Camera systems and remote operation increase safety by keeping people out of danger zones.

Managing maintenance effectively

We have come a long way when it comes to autonomous track maintenance machines: digital tamping plans and smart assistance with AI are already simplifying operation.

Bringing more trains onto existing tracks requires efficiently planned and implemented construction measures. There are different strategies for infrastructure asset management around the world. Standardized, high-quality maintenance combined with end-to-end solutions reduces costs and additional work.

Our approach: precise measurements lead to better planning, efficient execution, and transparent documentation as a basis for future measures.

Assistance systems for performing tasks

Automatic calculation of the configurations (work units) for each position, taking into account the tamping plan and identified objects – Plasser TampingAssistant.

Plasser SmartTamping supports core track maintenance processes with automated positioning of tamping units (Plasser TampingAssistant), automated tamping parameters (Plasser TampingControl), and digital verification management (Plasser TampingReport).

Laser sensors and AI-based analyses are integrated into the machine control system and offer end-to-end digitalization from pre-measuring to post-measuring.

The next milestone is to integrate all digital products on one operating platform: the track machine operating system tmOS will be central to implementing the end-to-end approach in digital track maintenance.

Development is far from complete – we are convinced that the future belongs to autonomous maintenance machines.

Gallery

Live detection and classification of obstacles and turnout components during working travel with the Plasser TampingAssistant

Light-section sensors of the Plasser TampingAssistant on the track inspection vehicle at the front

The sensor-equipped tamping unit ensures correct filling and compaction under the sleeper and "senses" the ballast condition, i.e. the degree of fouling of the ballast, during the tamping process – Plasser TampingControl.

Tamping without compromise: The 8x4 units offer the high performance of 2-sleeper tamping, combined with maximum flexibility thanks to eight independent unit segments with tilting tamping tines.

Plasser InfraScan: a rotary laser at the end of the machine records the entire environment and the distance to the platform, overhead contact line, or structure gauge.

Post-measuring directly in the work process or routine high-speed capture of the track geometry with the proven inertial measurement system, integrated GPS localization, and dual optical gauge measuring system – Plasser InertialTrackGeometry

The labour-intensive and time-consuming manual work needed to calculate the absolute track geometry is a thing of the past. The fixed-point measuring system completes the automated track geometry measurement – Plasser ReferencedTrackGeometry.

Laser scanners, colour cameras, and 3D light-section sensors on the front of the machine provide information for the Plasser TampingAssistant.