Key Source Rail is working closely with its partners to deliver quality track maintenance equipment for Australia and New Zealand.
Key Source Rail has been supplying the Australian and New Zealand rail industry for over 15 years with GEISMAR track monitoring and recording equipment.
GEISMAR specialise in the development of measurement and verification equipment for railways. For almost a century, teams from GEISMAR have been developing technology to improve rail transport.
Key Source Rail has embraced the development of track geometry measurement as it plays a crucial role in improving the safety, efficiency, and reliability of railway networks.
Rail Express spoke with Key Source Rail Chief Executive Officer David Gallagher to better understand what the company is offering Australia and the intricacies of track monitoring.
“Over the years, technological advances and an increasing emphasis on accuracy have transformed the methods used to measure track geometry,” Gallagher said.
“GEISMAR are continually developing their technology in a state-of-the-art laboratory where they are consistently coming up with better methods for recording track measurements.
“These developments set Australia up well to benefit from the work being done by GEISMAR around the globe and we are excited to bring this technology to the local market.
Track measurement
Gallagher explained that track measurement is segmented into three categories: track geometry, rail geometry, and gauge and structure.
Track geometry involves measurement criteria linking both rail tracks. Aspects measured are track gauge, elevation, cross level, versine, switch, twist, horizontal versine and horizontal alignment.
“Key Source Rail offers several pieces of equipment for measuring these various metrics,” Gallagher said.
These include the RCFF track and level measurement gauge; the RCA track and turnout gauge; the Garnet-DL digital track and switch gauge; the Amber manual track recording unit; the Amber-T track geometry and versine recorder; the Topaz track geometry and versine recording trolley; the Diamond-S2 portable track and switch geometry digital measuring and recording trolley; and the Emerald towed track recording unit.”
Rail geometry includes measurement criteria where users can measure each rail independently. This includes measurement and recording of rail straightness, rail inclination, rail corrugation measurement and vertical versine.
Key Source Rail has three pieces of equipment for this purpose. They comprise the Opal Mini laser alignment system, the Rectirail DL2 portable electronic straightness measurer and the JET rail inclination gauge.
Gauge and structure measurement relates to metrics surrounding the track including platform height, clearance measurement and position of track. Gallagher said the best machine for these operations is the Mephisto laser survey recorder.
New technology
Over the past few decades, GPSs have been integrated into Key Source Rail’s track geometry measurement instruments. This has further improved accuracy and efficiency by providing real-time location data.
This is particularly true of the GEISMAR Emerald measurement trolley, which can record track geometry over long distances while being towed at speeds of up to 20 kilometres per hour.
“This saves a great deal of time in collecting and analysing data,” Gallagher said.
“The Emerald can be easily towed through switches and crossings making it ideal for the great distances we have in Australia.”
The other machines that utilise GPS technology are the Amber, the Amber-T and the Topaz.
“The Amber is a robust and lightweight recording trolley that displays and stores accurate measurements. The system can be set up on a smart phone, which is connected to a Bluetooth system enabling efficient data management and ease of use,” Gallagher said.
“This machine accurately measures gauge, cross-level, twist, distance and speed travelled.”
GEISMAR has developed an enhancement to the Amber, which is the Amber-T.
“The Amber-T provides real-time measuring and displaying of all track geometry parameters similarly to the regular Amber, on a smartphone,” Gallagher said.
“Once stored, the data can be processed later on a desktop computer. This machine maintains conformity to the local track standards measuring gauge, cross-level, twist, horizontal and vertical alignment, distance and curve radius.”
The Topaz is a light and portable track geometry trolley that can be easily folded for carrying to site and is quick and easy to set up.
“The Topaz enables the collection and display of gauge, cross-level, twist, horizontal and vertical alignment as well as distance travelled,” Gallagher said.
“Like the other sophisticated machines, it enables collection and display on a smartphone using bluetooth technology.”
These advances make it possible for network operators to identify risks at an early stage, improving safety and reducing maintenance costs.
The Mephisto and the Opal Mini are two pieces of measuring equipment that utilise laser technology.
“Laser-based technologies have become valuable assets in rail measurement, enabling more detailed and accurate assessments of rail and track conditions,” Gallagher said.
“The Mephisto laser survey recorder is a magnificent piece of measuring equipment. It has an on-screen digital display for all its measurements.”
The unit records several key track structure measurements including position of track (fixed point and low point), track structure gauge, infringements to track structure gauge, position of reception areas (platform edges and walls), bridges curvature, overhead line position, and the distance between two sets of tracks.
Meanwhile, the Opal Mini is a compact laser measurer that is lightweight and able to be set up in a matter of seconds.
It measures horizontal and vertical versine. It is composed of one laser source and a laser target with a maximum of 30 metres in between placed on the same rail.
“This is a dynamic device that is particularly useful to assist hand tamping operations to ensure level track,” Gallagher said.
“The Rectirail-DL2 portable electronic straightness measurer. This provides an easy and reliable way to measure and record rail head straightness and is principally used across welded rail and corrugated rail.
“The machine is non-contact and takes one sample every 10mm using 100 sensors over a one-metre base.
“To support all of our products Key Source Rail offers preventative and corrective maintenance services as well as our equipment calibration service in Perth and Newcastle and the GEISMAR laboratory.”
Partnership
All of these machines are supplied to Key Source Rail by GEISMAR and the two organisations have formed a strong relationship.
Gallagher went on to explain how the relationship benefits the Australian rail industry.
“We get the benefit of picking up what everyone is doing in our local industry,” he said.
“We like to think that we are at the cutting edge of new development in the field, and we communicate with GEISMAR to ensure we remain there.”
Collaborate
The Key Source Rail team go once a year to France to collaborate with GEISMAR and get the opportunity to take any issues the team may have and take suggestions to them.
“We have our technicians in Australia who are qualified to calibrate these machines, they travel to France to be qualified to operate and calibrate them correctly,” he said. “It ensures they are experts in this technology to support the local network. This customer service ensures you continuous support through the life of your equipment.”
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