iWagon Trials the Wheel Flat Prevention System: Advancing Rail Safety

Leasing company VTG and rolling stock subsystem manufacturer Knorr-Bremse have embarked on groundbreaking trials involving “iWagons,” a new breed of railway vehicles infused with smart digital technologies, as reported by the railway portal Railway Supply.

These trials are set to revolutionize rail safety and maintenance practices.

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The initial phase of testing involves three iWagons, JPA tank wagons, which have been specially adapted at Tarmac’s Dunbar depot. Subsequent trials will employ wagons from the fleets of Hanson and Mendip Rail.

The testing encompasses a range of technologies, including axle lock detection and a patented wheel flat prevention system that closely monitors wheelset slide and brake conditions.

Axle-end generators are responsible for powering this wheel flat prevention system, with future applications envisioned to support real-time maintenance, temperature monitoring, and harmonics frequency monitoring.

The first iWagons hit the tracks on October 2, embarking on a four-month testing period along Tarmac’s daily return service from their Dunbar cement plant to a depot in Seaham, County Durham.

Initial data from these trials is expected to become available in January, with plans for series deployment on 50 wagons slated for the second quarter of 2024.

One of the game-changing aspects of this technology is the brake condition monitoring, which will enable VTG to analyze performance remotely from their office in Bromsgrove.

The ultimate goal is to eliminate the need for annual brake tests, while also ensuring any defects are promptly identified, which could significantly assist Network Rail in identifying low adhesion issues across the network.

Colin Denman, Managing Director of VTG Rail UK, expressed his enthusiasm for these trials, stating, “The iWagon has been over a decade in development, and we are delighted to be at the stage where we can commence country-wide trials of the UK’s first digitalized freight wagon.

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This will enable the real-time collection of data to ensure safer railways and more efficient wagon utilization.”

Denman pointed out that locked axles have been responsible for high-profile incidents in recent years.

Digitization will empower the prevention of wheelset damage and axle locks in real-time, ensuring that all relevant parties receive vital information promptly to take necessary corrective actions.

Sanjay Albert, Director of Engineering & Innovation at Knorr-Bremse, underscored the project’s significance, describing it as part of their mission to combine mechatronic expertise with their digital monitoring capabilities.

He further emphasized that these digital monitoring capabilities will yield invaluable insights to support customers in achieving efficient operations and maintenance, with far-reaching benefits for the entire industry.

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