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Safer, Smarter, Stronger: The Impact of Sensors on Rail Operations

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RailPulse Tech
March 20, 2025

🚀 Hello, Poland is investing EUR 32.5 billion to build a 480 km high-speed rail network by 2035, connecting key cities and a new airport, with a focus on local sourcing and minimizing social impact. In the UK, DB Cargo has opened Cricklewood, the country’s first net-zero freight terminal, featuring green innovations like biofuels and rewilding.

Meanwhile, the UK is piloting GPS-based contactless ticketing in Yorkshire and the East Midlands. Austria’s new government is driving rail modernization through digitalization, EU collaboration, and long-term infrastructure investments extending to 2040.

TOP STORIES

🚊 Poland’s Bold Leap into High-Speed Rail
Poland plans to build a 480 km high-speed rail line by 2035, connecting major cities and a new airport, with most materials sourced domestically due to its strong rail industry. The EUR 32.5 billion project, coordinated by Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK), aims to cut travel time between key cities to 100 minutes, while including stations in smaller towns and offering favorable terms for land expropriation to minimize social impact. Alongside the rail line, Polish companies like Kombud Group and Tines Rail are investing in advanced signaling, traffic control, and vibration-reduction technologies, positioning Poland as a regional leader in rail innovation and infrastructure.

🍏 The UK's First Net-Zero Terminal in Cricklewood 
DB Cargo UK has established the UK's first net-zero rail freight terminal in Cricklewood, North London, with several eco-friendly features. These include a large green acoustic barrier, water recycling systems, biofuel use for machinery, and rewilding efforts to support local wildlife. The terminal aims to reduce its carbon footprint and set a benchmark for sustainable operations across the UK's rail freight industry.

🎫 Smart Ticketing Pilot to Track Passenger Journeys by GPS
The UK Department for Transport is launching a contactless ticketing trial in Yorkshire and the East Midlands, using GPS technology through a smartphone app to track passengers’ locations and guarantee the best-value fares. The system generates a barcode for scanning by inspectors and barriers, aiming to simplify travel and expand pay-as-you-go ticketing beyond London. Trials will begin later this year, with the government seeking suppliers to implement the system on Northern and East Midlands Railway services.

🗺️ Austria’s New Government Champions Rail Modernization
Austria’s new government has outlined a comprehensive plan for rail modernization, including multi-billion investments, a six-year infrastructure plan extending to 2040, and efforts to boost rail freight through EU cooperation. Key initiatives include the development of the Brenner Corridor, digitalization, regulatory harmonization, and cutting bureaucratic barriers in rail transport.

Regional Highlights

Europe:

  • 🇵🇹 Portugal increased funding by EUR 150 million for the Lisbon Violet Line, extending the timeline to 2029 and raising total investment to EUR 527.3 million.

  • 🇦🇹 The transport minister of Carinthia (Austria) and ÖBB CEO discussed the Koralmbahn, rail infrastructure upgrades, a new stop at Kühnsdorf-Klopeiner See, and EUR 1.2 billion in planned investments by 2029.

  • 🇬🇧 Network Rail is investing GBP 18 million to upgrade infrastructure on the Inverclyde Line in Scotland, including track renewal, tunnel repairs, and bridge refurbishments between Port Glasgow and Gourock.

  • 🇨🇭Swiss Rail announced plans for high-speed services connecting Switzerland to London, with operations expected by 2030, requiring new trains, station upgrades, and route decisions..

  • 🇩🇪 Germany RMV halted direct debit and credit card payments after Deutschlandticket fraud caused EUR 1 million in losses, with hundreds of millions lost across transport networks.

  • 🇩🇪 The German Knorr-Bremse and the Dutch WESP have partnered to develop a digital workshop benchmarking system that helps commercial vehicle workshops improve efficiency, sales, and performance through data-driven insights and KPIs.

  • 🌷 Freightliner PL and Freightliner DE, in partnership with Rotterdam Rail Feeding, have launched a regular intermodal freight service connecting Rotterdam to Rzepin, Poland, with plans for further expansions.

  • 🇪🇸 Milence has launched an electric corridor from Barcelona to Lyon, with three charging hubs in Perpignan, Béziers, and Malataverne, enhancing connectivity and supporting the adoption of electric trucks across southern Europe.

  • 🇧🇬 The Bulemu consortium, comprising Alstom and RPV Invest, has been awarded a EUR 445 million contract to deliver 35 single-deck EMUs for Bulgaria under the country's Recovery and Resilience Plan, with a 15-year maintenance agreement, despite facing legal challenges and a tight delivery timeframe.

  • 🇪🇪 Two international consortia have been selected to build major sections of Rail Baltica’s high-speed railway in Estonia, advancing the project towards a continuous rail corridor between Tallinn and Warsaw by 2030.

Aisa:

  • 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan and India have launched a new rail service transporting goods via the eastern route of the North-South Corridor, cutting delivery times with a multimodal route through Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.

  • 🇰🇷 Rail-Mil Computers and South Korea's STraffic have partnered to develop automatic train protection (ATP) and control systems for South Korea’s 4,000 km rail network, including its 625 km of high-speed lines.

  • 🇮🇳 Indian Railways has unveiled its most powerful 9000 HP EF-9K electric freight locomotive, built with Siemens at the Dahod factory, as part of a 1,200-unit order to boost freight capacity on Dedicated Freight Corridors and support its net-zero carbon goals by 2030.

  • 🇷🇺 RussiaRussia's confiscation of dual-use goods from China transiting through its territory has led companies to seek alternative routes, as thousands of containers are detained under a new directive targeting goods with potential military applications.

North America:

  • 🇺🇸 Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has withdrawn support for starting the Beltline light rail along the Eastside Trail.

  • 🇺🇸 Huston PSC Group expanded its wagon repair operations by acquiring 32 Rescar facilities, extending services to 40 states with 25 mobile hubs and 100 repair trucks.

Track and Train

The Growing Role of Smart Sensors in Automated

Track and Train Inspection Smart sensors are transforming the way railway systems are monitored and maintained. By collecting and analyzing real-time data from tracks and trains, these advanced technologies enable automated inspections that improve safety, efficiency, and reliability. As rail networks become more digitalized, the integration of sensor-based solutions is key to predictive maintenance and operational excellence.

Key Benefits:

  • Enhanced Safety: Early detection of rail defects, such as cracks or breaks, reduces the risk of accidents and derailments.

  • Improved Efficiency: Continuous monitoring minimizes service interruptions and reduces the need for manual inspections.

  • Cost Savings: Predictive maintenance driven by sensor data lowers repair costs and extends the lifespan of infrastructure and rolling stock.

Real-World Examples:

  • Germany: Siemens’ Broken Rail Detection (BRD) system identifies rail fractures with pinpoint accuracy—within 100 mm—using advanced sensors and GPS positioning. This enables quick intervention before a minor defect becomes a serious hazard.

  • France: Thales’ SelTrac™ CBTC system uses smart sensors and communication networks to optimize train control in dense urban settings, enhancing capacity and safety.

  • Switzerland: Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) employs wayside monitoring systems, including hot box and wheel impact detectors, to inspect trains in motion and prevent mechanical failures.

Why It Matters: 

With rail travel demand growing and infrastructure aging, smart sensor technologies are helping operators transition to automated, data-driven maintenance strategies. This not only increases safety and efficiency but also supports sustainability by reducing energy consumption and resource use. As investment in smart rail technologies accelerates, sensor-based systems will be at the heart of next-generation railways.

Statistics of the Week

  • Long Island Metro-North achieved 100% on-time performance for the 21st time, with 99% punctuality across all lines in early March, while LIRR recorded a 2025 year-to-date on-time rate of nearly 97% - up 2% from 2024 - and an 11.2% ridership increase in January.

  • Türkiye’s high-speed train network has carried nearly 97 million passengers since 2009, now serving 51% of the population across 20 provinces, with 32,000 daily passengers and a total of 95 million kilometers traveled.

  • In 2024, the Port of Hamburg saw a 0.9% increase in container throughput to 7.8 million TEU, with rail transport growing by 2.5% to handle 2.6 million TEU, making up 50.2% of the port’s container transport.

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Spotlight on Influential Voices

  • Gareth Dennis is a rail engineer, writer, and host of the #RailNatter podcast, which has over 200 episodes. He covers a wide range of rail topics, from historical insights to current industry developments.

  • Green Signals is one of the UK’s top railway podcasts, offering deep dives into the politics, economics, history, and people shaping the rail industry. Known for its thoughtful discussions, the show regularly features interviews with key decision-makers and experts.

  • Bessie is a freight train driver in the south of the UK, as well as an award-winning author, illustrator, and columnist. She combines her love for railways with storytelling and fundraising, contributing to both the industry and its community.

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