Vaisala IceCast Rail Weather System

Heavy Rainfall

Embankment erosion, wash-outs and landslips can be serious safety issues for rail operators.  Precipitation, in the form of heavy and extended rainfall, is one contributing trigger for these events.

The Vaisala IceCast Rail Weather System can report precipitation type (rain, drizzle, mixed rain/snow, snow, along with a range of other parameters), intensity (in mm/hour) and accumulated amounts (in mm per 24 hour period) using the Present Weather Detector (PWD). 

The system can be part of a Conductor Rail, Overhead Wire or Rail Temperature System, or stand-alone in remote, at risk locations.  The system can warn users of heavy rain and facilitates pro-active management of areas at risk of wash-outs / landslips.

Web based Vaisala Weather Cameras provide an 'eye on the ground' at remote locations.

Heavy Snowfall

Snowfall can be a problem for rail operators, leading to blocked switch points and rail lines.

The Vaisala IceCast Rail Weather System reports precipitation type (snow, rain/snow rain, along with a range of other parameters), intensity (in mm/hour) and accumulated amounts (in mm per 24 hour period) using the PWD.

The system may be included as part of a Conductor Rail, Overhead Wire or Rail Temperature System, or operated stand-alone in remote, at risk locations.  The system warns users of heavy snowfalls or extended snow showers and facilitates pro-active targeting, or planning of snow clearance operations. When linked to long range forecasts snow crews can be put on standby, or snow clearance measures put in place.

24 hour Precipitation Graph	Vaisala Weather Camera Image

Snow information is either presented on IceView or via the IceWeb interface.

Web based Vaisala Weather Cameras provide an 'eye on the ground' at remote locations to show actual snow accumulation.