Indian Railways Pilots Cutting-Edge Automatic Wheel Profile System to Prevent Derailments скачать в хорошем качестве

Indian Railways Pilots Cutting-Edge Automatic Wheel Profile System to Prevent Derailments

As trains thunder along iron tracks, invisible wear and tear on wheels builds up over time, posing silent risks of derailments. To catch these minute flaws before they turn catastrophic, Indian Railways is rolling out a high-tech solution: the Automatic Wheel Profile Measurement System (AWPM). In an exclusive interview with News Station editor Siddharatha, Rahul Dev Pandey, a key figure at Novius Railtech, demystified this laser-sharp innovation, which is now under pilot testing at four strategic locations. "Trains pass over this device, and it instantly captures the wheel's profile—measuring dimensional changes in the wheel's shape," Pandey explained, demonstrating the setup. "If the wear stays within limits, the train gets clearance; otherwise, an alarm triggers for immediate repairs." With pinpoint accuracy down to 80 microns (0.08 mm) on a moving train, the system detects even subtle erosion that manual checks miss. Wheel wear varies wildly—depending on load and mileage, a wheel might grind down minimally or excessively after a decade of service. "Exceed the permissible tolerances, and you're risking derailment—the wheel simply slips off the rail," Pandey warned. At its core, the AWPM is a camera- and laser-based marvel equipped with 10 sensor sets. As a train rolls by, it scans multiple cross-sections of each wheel, logging data for digital records. This shift from reactive fixes to preventive maintenance could save lives by flagging issues before failures occur. Indian Railways has launched a pilot with four such systems at Tuglakabad (the first site, set for completion by December 2025), Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Anand Vihar, and Mughalsarai (targeted for April 2026 rollout). "Tuglakabad's installation is underway right now," Pandey confirmed, highlighting the phased approach to nationwide integration. Until now, wheel inspections rely on labor-intensive manual methods: workers physically crouch under trains, using mechanical gauges like oversized rulers to measure profiles. "It's time-consuming and prone to human error," Pandey noted. The AWPM promises a fully digital overhaul—storing historical data for trend analysis and enabling proactive interventions. "No more guesswork; you'll know exactly when a wheel needs re-profiling." #IndianRailways #RailSafety #WheelTech #PreventDerailment