RAIL - Reliability centred maintenance (RCM) Approach for Infrastructure and Logistics of Railway Operations
Overview
Background & policy context:
Safety critical railway infrastructure components account for a large number of train delays. These delays occur despite the extensive, and very costly maintenance effort required under national safety regulations. One example is the weekly on-site visual inspections of points and track signalling required in several member state safety regulations. Furthermore, visual inspections in the field performed while normal train operation is maintained is one of the reasons for the large number of accidents involving maintenance personnel at work in the field.
A structured technique to come up with maintenance strategies based on the awareness of the nature and causes of malfunctions is called Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM). The technique was developed for aircraft and nuclear industry maintenance. The application of the RCM to total railway infrastructure gives the project a total innovative approach.
Objectives:
The RAIL project developed, implemented and evaluated the RCM analysis on various types of track circuitry, axle counters, point machines, signals and interlocking devices.
The first goal is the development and use of a Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) approach for the railway infrastructure and logistics and the awareness of the nature and causes of malfunctions.
The second goal is to provide a methodology to study the reduction of costs and to develop a simple Life Cycle Cost (LCC) model to be applied in the economical evaluation of the railway equipment in general.
Methodology:
The research and development concentrated on developing a structured RCM approach to railway infrastructure. This area gives the greatest potential for improvement in safety and train delays. In particular, the RCM analysis was developed, implemented and evaluated on all various types of track circuitry, axle counters, point machines, the signals and interlocking devices, such as position of points, signals to clear, etc. The set of the above-mentioned equipment are called Safety Critical Railway Infrastructure components (SCRI components or SCRICs).
The methodology that was developed in order to study the SCRICs problems into the RAIL project included three models estimating the cost of maintenance operations:
- Corrective maintenance costs,
- Preventive maintenance costs,
- LCC (life cycle costs).
The Workpackage that covered an RCM analysis of the main machines of the railway signalling infrastructure also included a study of the first machines of the railway signalling infrastructure and was followed by transfering and applying the approach for the national railway company.
Futhermore, a preventive maintenance task supported by a database was developed. At the beginning, this database was developed as a first version and then it was completed with more data needed.
In order to discuss safety problems with railway security authorities, a set of standard performance indicators and steps to implement the RCM programme were developed. Analysing rail safety statistics and determining the effect of different maintenance policies on safety led to the analysis of safety aspects as a part of maintenance optimisation.
After evaluation and demonstration of cross-border traffic, the RCM inter operating system was modified.
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