Vaisala IceCast Rail Temperature System

Hot Rails 

Rail buckling is a major safety and performance issue for rail operators and this is in part caused by hot rails.  Daytime rail and air temperatures can deviate significantly under clear skies or broken cloud and this can mean that there is an increased risk of rail buckling in the summer months.  

Manual rail temperature 'thermometer' checks are generally made by maintenance staff.  Such measurements can be inaccurate and/or inconsistent as the measurements depend on the operator, or technique adopted.  In some cases staff are required to go line-side to take temperature measurements - clearly not an ideal or safe situation.

An image showing a Rail / Air Temperature Graph as displayed in IceWeb

The Vaisala IceCast Rail TemperatureSystem allows users to remotely monitor rail temperatures all year round without the need to go track-side. Temperature sensors either attached to sections of rail mounted on ballast mounted sleepers next to the line, or directly attached to the foot of the running rail, are used to report rail temperature data.  Air temperature and relative humidity data are also provided at all locations.

Data are automatically collected by the Vaisala IceNet Bureau and then posted on a dedicated website, IceWeb or via IceView.    Along with the normal table and graph views, multiple status maps provide a visual overview on the status of the network, allowing maintenance staff to be mobilised only when required.  

Multiple temperature thresholds can be established allowing maintenance staff to remotely assess, on-line, the state of the network and at each threshold act according to their pre-defined procedures. For example when rail temperatures are in the 49-53°C range trains may be subjected to high temperature related speed restrictions.

In winter the system can also provide warning when the rail temperatures are less than 0°C  (or other user defined thresholds) to help schedule winter maintenance works.