These machines shall make trackman’s life better by using innovation and technology: Ashwini Vaishnaw
DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
New Delhi, Dec 5
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology, inspected Integrated Track Monitoring System and Road cum Rail Inspection Vehicle (RCRIV) today at New Delhi Railway Station. During the inspection, Shri Satish Kumar, Chairman & CEO, Railway Board, Shri Naveen Gulati, Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board, Shri Ashok Kumar Verma, General Manager, Northern Railway and senior officials from Railway Board, Northern Railway and RDSO were also present.
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Integrated Track Monitoring System (ITMS) shall be made available across all railway zones for comprehensive track monitoring. This initiative aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of the railway network by leveraging advanced technology to improve track inspections and maintenance. Hon’ble Minister emphasized the importance of utilizing modern technology to improve the lives of trackmen, the personnel responsible for track maintenance. He stated that with the use of ITMS and RCRIV, trackmen will now have access to accurate, real-time data, which will make their job easier, safer, and more efficient.
Integrated Track Monitoring System (ITMS) is a system installed on board the Track Recording Car (TRC) with capability to record track parameters and monitor the track in the speed range of 20-200kmph.Integrated Track Monitoring Systems (ITMS) combine various technologies to monitor and measure railway track parameters, ensuring safe and efficient rail operations. These systems are equipped with
Contactless Laser Sensors,
High Speed Cameras,
LiDAR,
IMU,
Encoder,
Accelerometers,
GPS etc. and uses data analytics and an integrating software to collect, analyse and process the data from various on-board sensors, cameras etc.
ITMS is integrated with TMS (Track management System) of IR so that the report of each Track recording run is available on TMS portal.
During 2022-23 and 2023-24, 03 nos. of ITMS have been introduced on IR. These TRCs are a part of a fleet of 7 nos.
TRCs with RDSO which are required for statutory track recording of IR track length with current annual liability of about 2.54 Lac Km in the year 2024-25.
These systems are particularly helpful to P-way officials as they provide real time alerts through SMS and Email for locations of bad spots requiring urgent track attention. ITMS essentially consists of following sub-systems:
Track geometry measuring system – System for measurement of track geometry parameters (e.g.,gauge, cant, horizontal and vertical alignment) by contactless laser sensor technology and high speed cameras using inertial principle.
Full rail profile and wear measurement system: System for Rail Condition Monitoring through full rail profile and wear measurement system by contactless laser sensor and high-speed cameras.
Track Component Condition Monitoring-System for Structural Health Monitoring of track through video inspection to identify defects in track components (e.g., rails, sleepers, fastenings, ballast) or identify missing/loose track fittings (fastenings, bolts, fishplates, etc.), with the help of line scans cameras and analysis using machine learning.
Acceleration measurement – The system is equipped with accelerometers for measuring accelerations at axle box and coach floor levels for Ride quality monitoring and ascertaining bad spots requiring urgent attention.
Rear Window Video Recording- System to monitor track conditions and surrounding environment through high resolution cameras, for correlation of track defects with track assets and video surveillance of track.
System for measurement of infringement: System for monitoring infringement of MMD/ SOD envelope using LIDAR technology.
Rail Cum Road Inspection Vehicle (RCRIV)
The Road Cum Rail Inspection Vehicle (RCRIV) has been modified from the Tata Yodha model with two iron wheels (750 mm diameter) at the rear and 2 iron wheels (250 mm diameter) at the front.
Additionally, it has 3 cameras that will record the track, the recording backup of which will be about 15 days.
