Queensland Rail’s track recording machine has notched up more than 205,000 kilometres, ensuring the network is up to scratch ahead of the summer season.
The bright yellow, custom-built machine travels the entire rail network to detect and report any potential issues before they escalate and become a safety risk.
It takes video footage, pictures and thermal measurements of every part of the track infrastructure, including the rails and overhead wires.
The data is then fed back to Queensland Rail’s maintenance teams.
Queensland Rail Executive General Manager of South East Queensland Assets Dave Smale said the track machine is an “unsung hero”, ensuring safe and reliable trains for customers.
“We always put the safety of our customers first, and for the past six years this bright yellow hero has been our worst kept secret,” he said.
“Without this machine’s detection expertise, a minor issue could lead to major train disruptions.
“Track recording is one of our key maintenance activities at Queensland Rail and while customers might not know what the yellow machine is doing when they see it trundle past a station – it’s very important.”
During its latest South East Queensland run, the track machine found 262 potential issues, including 178 potential overhead equipment issues, 79 track geometry corrective actions and nine potential vegetation risks.
Queensland Rail’s maintenance team was dispatched to fix these issues before they got worse, and the track machine is now headed north.
Queensland Rail Manager of Plant and Mechanised Maintenance Howard Sims said the weather in Queensland at this time of year can cause issues on the network.
“In extreme weather, like heatwaves, rails can expand – which could lead to reduced track stability and misalignment issues, increasing the risk of defects.
“Vegetation striking the overhead wires can also cause major disruptions, so monitoring the rail corridor ahead of and during storm season is critical to minimising that risk.
“Another part of Queensland summer is the wet season, so we’re also on the lookout for defects due to poor drainage, including vegetation growing in the ballast and track formation, as this could affect the function of the ballast supporting the track.”
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