ENSCO Rail has launched the latest Predictive Rail Temperature System, showcasing the safety product at the Railway Systems Suppliers Inc (RSSI) C&S Exhibition.
The 58th Annual RSSI C&S Exhibition will be held in Omaha, Nebraska, on 21-24 May.
The Predictive Rail Temperature System effectively manages and reduces the risks associated with track buckling derailments, which are a major challenge to the US rail network. Current methods involve issuing blanket slow orders when daily ambient temperatures reach a certain level, which can cost railways millions of dollars and create congestion.
The system replaces blanket slow orders with fewer, targeted heat slow orders and heat inspections. It uses the National Weather Service data as weather forecast inputs with additional weather and material parameters, including:
- Intensity of solar radiation
- Solar angle
- Wind speed
- Sky temperature
- Heat absorptivity and emissivity of rail
“We are excited about the launch of this new product, which will have a significant positive impact on rail safety,” states Jeff Stevens, vice-president of ENSCO Rail. “By allowing for advance heat slow orders in an accurate, effective and targeted way, the Predictive Rail Temperature System will minimise the impact on railroad operations while decreasing the risk of track buckling derailments.”
Cost and operational benefits associated with the Rail Temperature Predication Model include improved accuracy and more targeted heat slow orders that can result in significant cost savings, increased overall train velocity, and fewer required resources.
For 58 years, RSSI has established itself as the premier show in the rail and rail transit, communication and signal industry. The 2018 RSSI C&S Exhibition will focus on bringing C&S suppliers together with their rail and rail transit customers. Nearly 300 member companies are expected to attend.
Visit ENSCO Rail at booth 931 in the exhibit hall.