A 40km railway line between Passau and Nuremberg was kinematically measured by Track Machines Connected and Obermeyer. The EM 100 VT measuring train was used in order to compare and validate the digital solution tmRTG from tmc, with a tested and guideline-compliant conventional, terrestrial measurement method. tmRTG promises hightened security, faster implementation times and lower costs with equal precision.
Vienna, Aug 25, 2022 – After a two-year project period, the milestone of the product release of the digital track measurement solution tmRTG with the EM 100 VT measuring train was reached by DB Netz AG. tmRTG is a product and service solution that enables kinematic measurement with a track measurement vehicle,the state-of-the-art EM100VT from Plasser & Theurer. As part of this project, DB Netz AG, tmc and Obermeyer digitally measured the 40km railway line, 20km in both directions, between Passau and Nuremberg at speeds of 60 to 100km/h. The track axis and constraint points were digitally determined. Whereby the requirements of DB guideline 883 “Track and construction surveying” had to be adhered to. Markers are placed in advance along the route for the digital measurement method.
Track surveying 2.0: Faster, safer, cost-effective
The track position was measured digitally on the basis of six measurement runs over several days and on each track. To do this, the track did not have to be closed or physically entered by personnel. The speed of the digital measurement solution thus offers considerable advantages over the conventional method with the same level of precision.
The duration of the project can be explained by the fact that the data from the new measurement method was analyzed very precisely and compared and validated with a tested and approved conventional measurement method. There were around 700 axis points from conventional, terrestrial surveying as a reference. The analyzes also included the detection of the markers and the accuracy checks of the track axis and constraint points and high-level support from independent experts.
Mr. Marc Stockenhofen, head of inventory data management and responsible for technical rules and regulations for track and construction surveying at DB Netz AG, explains that “the new measuring methods that are emerging on the market are very interesting. As a pioneer, we at DB Netz AG have progressed proactively and agilely in testing these solutions. After an extensive comparison with conventional surveying, the new tmRTG surveying method has now been approved as a product release. For track measurements, which were previously carried out by surveyors in the track area, new perspectives in terms of efficiency and occupational safety arise.”
Jochen Nowotny, CEO of tmc confirms: “The product release by DB Netz AG is an important step. We expect that this release will increase the acceptance and demand for digital track measurement. It is safer, faster, more cost-effective and the precision has also been hereby confirmed.”
Marc Kückmann, head of Obermeyer’s Karlsruhe branch, confirms: “The cooperation between Obermeyer and tmc is going wonderfully, we have found that we complement each other and, as a team, are from now on, ready to use this new and innovative solution everywhere”.
Digital track surveying briefly explained
The tmRTG heralds the digital age of track measurement. What does it take? Markers that only need to be placed once along the railway line. In addition to that, there are sensors and hardware on a rail vehicle and the tmc software. Using tmc’s web-based platform, the measurement can then be carried out quickly, precisely and with little to no manpower and time. See for yourself:
You can find more information on digital track measurement here.