Track-Ex Update
A year in the life of Track-Ex
Matthew Keillor
Engineer, Safety, Technical & Engineering, Network Rail
/
Track-Ex Update
Body text
► Bullets level 1
• Bullets level 2
- Bullets level 3
• What is Track-Ex?
• 2015 Training
• Developments
• Case Studies
• 2016 Training
11-Nov-15 / 2
Track-Ex Update
What is Track-Ex?
A decision support tool developed by V/T SIC PPG
Predicts the locations and severity of Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) and
wear
Uses pre-calculated data from vehicle dynamics simulations to estimate
wheel/rail forces for traffic on any piece of track
Used for the management of the
wheel-rail interface;
The effects of grinding, lubrication
and steel type on damage
Change of vehicle type
Change of tonnage
Change of speeds
Current version is v4.2
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Track-Ex Update
Delivered training in 2015
6 courses delivered last year, 59 delegates were trained, 57% Network Rail staff
A total of 661 delegates have been trained to
use Track-Ex. Training courses include an
introduction to the theory of vehicle/track
interaction.
Network
Rail Staff
188,
28%
473,
72%
External
User guides have been produced for;
Route Fleet Analysis
Data requests
Importing GEOGIS
TRK/001 (Track Fault)
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Track-Ex Update
Recent Developments
Current Track-Ex version is v4.2 (issued Mid 2015)
Updated Graphical User Interface (GUI)
User display less cluttered
Three user modes – maintainer, designer, analyst
Lubricator locations and type can be imported
Operational status not currently available in data
New Vehicle Damage Matrices (VDMs)
Sheffield Tram-Trains
374 Velaros
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Track-Ex Update
Current Developments
VDMs to model more new vehicles
Track-Ex reads in Sperry generated Eddy Current data to present recorded
rail condition
Improving Eddy Current data processing tool
Equivalent conicity
Lubrication spread and effect on rail wear
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Track-Ex Update
Case Study – Wessex Capacity Programme
A Track-Ex study was commissioned to model the impact on wear and RCF
of proposed changes to the layout of platforms 1-4 at London Waterloo
station
► Change in track layout from current to proposed design
► Proposed change in traffic
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Track-Ex Update
Case Study – Wessex Capacity Programme
Recommendations
Premium grade steel with lubricators fitted is the recommended approach
to best manage RCF and sidewear
Dotted line indicates
The proposed change in traffic will have a noticeable impact
on rail
future traffic
damage, therefore if there are any additional changes to the volume or
type of traffic the Track-Ex Analysis would have to be carried out again to
Solid line indicates
reflect this.
current traffic
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Track-Ex Update
Case Study – TRK001 (Alert level faults)
Most track recording vehicles only provide
Intervention and Immediate Action track fault data
Track-Ex track fault reporting tool includes Alert
level faults and was used by Wales Route to
manage their track faults
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Track-Ex Update
Case Study – Line Speed Increase - Shrewsbury
A study on the effects on rail damage if the line speed was increased from 70mph to
90mph was carried out.
RCF levels were predicted to reduce by 28% on the down main line with the increased
line speed and resulting increase in cant deficiency.
70mph
90mph
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Track-Ex Update
Case Study – Sheffield Tram-Train
Tram-Train vehicles to be introduced on to Network Rail infrastructure via a new
connection at Meadowhall through to the shopping centre at Parkgate
Track-Ex assessment required on the NR infrastructure to determine the impact of
introducing the Tram Train vehicle
VDM produced for Vossloh Tram-Train and incorporated into Track-Ex so that Tata
Steel could carry out analysis
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Track-Ex Update
2016 Training
Next course November 2015 – FULL
7 courses currently planned for 2016
Jan 14-15
Birmingham
Feb 25-26
Milton Keynes
Apr 28-29
York
Jun
Bristol
Oct
Milton Keynes
Dec
London
For further information or to book a
place on a course, contact:
track-ex@networkrail.co.uk
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Track-Ex Update
If you have any questions after the seminar,
please contact the Track-Ex Team
track-ex@networkrail.co.uk
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