Techniques in developing economic decision model combining above rail and below rail assets

Abstract

Many of the rail infrastructure owners take ad-hoc decisions in inspection, lubrication and grinding strategies for controlling rolling contact fatigue (RCF) and wear. Limited research has been conducted in this area for economic effectiveness combining above rail and below rail assets. There is need to focus on damage of rail caused due to wheel and damage of wheel caused due to rail and total cost of rail and wheel for optimal replacements, maintenance and penalty costs to rail or train owners. This paper focuses on techniques in developing integrated economic decision model combining above rail and below rail assets for operational and maintenance strategies. These techniques able to analyse the effectiveness of operational and maintenance related decisions combining rail and wheel considering various scenarios.