Condition monitoring for rail vehicles-a freight train operator´s perspective

Freightliner is the UK´s leading intermodal transport specialist and the fastest growing railway. A feet of 60 diesel and 40 electric mainline locomotives are operated, and serviced in-house at fuelling and inspection sites. Exams repairs and heavy overhauls are carried out by contractors. The wagon fleet has grown, yet the running costs have already been significantly reduced through internalisation of the fleet maintenance. Condition monitoring of the wagon fleet may help to extend planned preventative maintenance frequencies. Remote monitoring already exists for hot axle box detection and wheel impact loading, but is only accessible by Railtrack. Derailment detectors are a reality, but not yet fitted to Freightliner wagons. Brake drag afflicts a number of Freightliner´s long trains. A remote-monitoring solution to this problem would be welcomed