Our systems.

The train monitoring system, a safety-relevant and networked measuring system, detects risks before an incident occurs.

The wheel load checkpoint measures the dynamic vertical wheel force when the train passes and calculates the static load figures.

Benefits.

Detects overloaded or unevenly loaded vehicles.
Detects technical problems with the bogie and vehicle.
Identifies serious wheel damage.
Early diagnosis of wheel damage enables condition-oriented wheelset maintenance.
Reduces damage to infrastructure and noise and vibration emissions due to improved wheel condition.
Automatic vehicle weight measurement using certified wheel load checkpoints.

Technology.

Rail deformation measured using strain gauges.
Dynamic vertical wheel force calculated from the signal.
Dynamic wheel force measuring range = 0–50 t.
Measurement accuracy of vehicle and train weight < 2%.

Facts.

Developed in-house by SBB.
30 systems, border crossing, marshalling yards, main traffic routes.
40 million axle measurements per year, 1,500 alerts per year

The fire and chemical detection system measures tiny concentrations of typical combustion gases and dangerous substances and prevents entry into critical route sections and tunnels in the event of an incident.

Benefits.

Detects fire as soon as it starts.
Detects tiny losses of dangerous goods.
Ensures the safety of critical route sections and long tunnels.

Technology.

Very low concentrations of typical gases are measured with highly sensitive gas analysers based on infrared absorption spectroscopy
Two combined measuring stations at least 300 m apart in an approach tunnel before the protected object.
Results within 20 seconds of the train passing.
The size of the fire and the quantity of dangerous goods can be estimated based on concentration changes, speed and tunnel cross section.

Facts.

Developed in-house by SBB.
30 systems in approach tunnels before critical tunnels or routes.
1.8 million trains measured per year.
< 10 fire alerts per year, 1 explosive gas alert in 10 years.

The hot box and brake-locking detection system monitors the temperatures of rail vehicles’ axle box bearings and brakes at normal line speed.

Benefits.

Detects damage to axle box bearings.
Identifies defective brake mechanisms.
Prevents wheel and brake disc failures.
Prevents damage to rolling stock.
Prevents derailments and fires.

Technology.

The temperature of the axle box bearing, wheel rim and brake disc are measured using infrared detectors.
The measuring range is captured using a special infrared lens.
The measurements are assigned to the axles via contacts on the rails.

Facts.

100 systems, primarily on main traffic routes.
One system every 30 route kilometres on average.
100 hot box alerts per year (overheated axle box bearings).
2,000 brake-locking alerts per year.

The profile clearance and aerial detection system checks whether rail vehicles comply with the clearance profile and detects objects close to the contact line at normal line speed.

Benefits.

Detects overloaded or unevenly loaded vehicles.
Prevents collisions with railway infrastructure and when trains pass each other.
Prevents fires and material damage caused by touching the contact wire.

Technology.

The train’s profile is measured with a laser scanner and compared with the target profile.
The train is reconstructed in the form of a 3D model and represented visually to help with assessing alerts.
Clearance profile breaches are recorded in images using
cameras and infrared flashes.

Facts.

12 systems on freight traffic routes.
1,200 vehicle alerts per year due to clearance profile breaches.
20 vehicle alerts per year due to truck aerials.

The natural hazard alert system detects rockfalls, landslides, mudslides and avalanches near the track.

Benefits.

Prevents derailments and collisions with rock, earth or snow on the track.
Increases the safety and availability of the SBB track network.
Informs the SBB geologist about activities on the networks with trend alerts.

Technology.

Autonomous wireless sensors installed in the safety nets report acceleration, position changes and deformation of the nets.
Information is transmitted via self-organising repeater networks and a base station.
Redundant transmission via fixed-line network and GSM.

Facts.

15 systems, primarily on the Gotthard corridor.
Over 1,000 sensors installed.
About 50 monitored networks with a total length of 5 km.
Detection of serious incidents in the Gurtnellen (Gotthard route) and Flamatt (Bern–Fribourg–Lausanne route) regions.

Further content

SBB AG

Infrastructure Sales

Hilfikerstrasse 3

P.O. Box 65

3000 Berne

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Our systems.

Wheel load checkpoints.

Fire and chemical detection.

Hot box and brake-locking detection.

Profile clearance and aerial detection.

Natural hazard alert system.

Further content

Contact.

SBB AG