Innotamp solution supports rail maintenance innovation

Solution

Tamping is an essential part of railway maintenance, carried out to correct track geometry and prevent derailments. Conventional maintenance (‘smooth’) tamping is a three-stage process:

1. The tamper collects information about the current relative track geometry

2. The machine then calculates how far the track needs to be moved to bring it within specification

3. The tamper mechanically repositions the rail and packs ballast beneath the sleepers to keep it in position

Although this conventional approach creates a safe track alignment, it doesn’t optimise the alignment. Over time, this can lead to longer wavelength problems such as multi-compound curves and poor cant build-up at the approach to curves.

To address this, InnoTamp took a completely different, ‘design first’ approach based on Fugro’s innovative RILA® monitoring system.

The InnoTamp project was focused on applying the RILA® collected geodetic data to create an optimised, safe track alignment. The RILA® data was post-processed to supply a 3D laser point cloud and data relating to absolute track position. This data was then used to model optimum alignment whilst maintaining gauge clearance to structures, platforms and adjacent tracks as well as the appropriate height and stagger for overhead line equipment (OLE). Once finalised, the designed alignment was converted into the corresponding track adjustments (lifts and slews) and could then be input into the tamping equipment.

RILA®’s highly accurate 3D surface profile can be used to accurately determine the current ballast volume and the tonnage of ballast needed to bring the ballast profile into line, providing exact locations of where to drop the ballast. This eliminates the problem of some parts of the track being deficient while others are overballasted. It also introduces new efficiencies, because if there’s not enough ballast available, this can be remedied well ahead of the tamping operation.

Innovative highlight

The ability to link the RILA® data with a design tamping application and to streamline the entire process is truly innovative. The InnoTamp research project has led to the creation of Fugro’s Smart Tamp solution, a comprehensive service that supports design tamping, more sustainable whole-life geometry and increased track quality and which ultimately will reduce maintenance costs, improve safety and cut CO2 emissions.

Impact

The key benefits from the InnoTamp process are:

• Optimised track alignment which enables the designer to move the track further than would generally be allowed in maintenance tamping

• Greater tamper efficiency with 25 % increase in tamper output per shift by negating the need for a pre-tamp collection run

• Better aligned track, with lower rolling resistance which offers approximately 5 % saving in traction power and reduced CO2 emissions

• Increased track quality with the amount of track maintenance reduced by up to 30 %

• A safer work environment by reducing ‘boots on ballast’ by as much as 97 %