Remote Condition Monitoring for Track Buckle Risk and Detection

The onset of hot weather brings with it the risk of track buckling if high rail temperatures are combined with deficiencies within the track system (i.e., incorrect rail stress, disturbed / deficient ballast, lateral alignment faults, incorrect rail joint gaps, etc.). Ideally, all such deficiencies should be eliminated before the hot weather season starts. As air temperatures increase during periods of hot weather, rail temperatures also increase. Metals expand and contract as the temperature changes. If a length of steel rail is rigidly clamped at both ends and then heated, the metal expands and is put under compression until the force becomes too great and exceeds the track systems lateral resistance forces.

The purpose of this pre market activity is to engage with the market, both internal and external to the rail industry, to request information on existing and / or new technologies that have the capability of enabling remote monitoring of critical rail temperature sites (i.e., monitoring rail temperatures and abnormal lateral track displacement).

Network Rail would like to invite prospective suppliers to submit a maximum two-page summary of existing technologies or technology development / research ideas, which address this challenge statement. Network Rail would also like to understand indicative costs in delivering a product trial. Network Rail reserves the rights to hold discussions with Suppliers, following a response to this RFI.

Network Rail are committed to investing internal Research and Development funding to support this challenge statement in future stages.

To access the instruction and guidance on how to be apart of the initial Pre Market engagement and potential tender please follow the below steps to access the Pre Market engagement support document for Remote Conditioning Monitoring for Track Buckle Risk and Detection:

1. Follow the link - https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
2. From the welcome screen, access the "View Current Opportunities" link and select "#26734 - Remote Condition Monitoring for Track Buckle Risk and Detection".

Should you wish to respond to this RFI, please follow the below instructions:

The response deadline for this RFI is 17:00 on Friday 14th January 2022.