Advanced Rail Management - Turnkey Rail Management and Rail Grinding Program Optimization

Advanced Rail Management (ARM) was formed to meet a specific need in the rail industry (both heavy-haul and transit system operations) - namely a unique combination of practical and high-level technical expertise of the rail / wheel interface using a systems engineering approach.

ARM's long-term plans are to provide the industry with a comprehensive rail management service, involving the consulting expertise needed to optimize the rail / wheel interface.

Whether you operate a heavy-haul freight or light rail transit system, ARM's comprehensive services are designed to extend rail and wheel life, and optimize rail / wheel interaction. ARM employs a unique blend of technical design skills and practical know-how, backed by 15 years of field experience on Class 1, regional and short line, mixed passenger and rail transit systems.

OPTICAL RAIL MEASUREMENT

Optical rail measurement is a critical step in generating accurate, short and long term forecasts for rail replacement. ARM is equipped with the highly accurate, state-of-the-art hardware and software necessary to complete this task.

Optical rail measurement measures actual versus desired rail profiles. The process also involves calculating the gauge and cant angles and measuring the percent of gauge and vertical head loss. Optical rail measurement is crucial in providing quality control through pre-grinding and post grinding measurements that determine metal-removal rates and ensure that the desired profiles are in place.

Hi-Rail vehicles collect optical rail measurements at maximum allowable speeds of up to 35mph. Trained operators capture the data collected by Optical Rail Measurement Vehicles (ORMV) and use it, along with other information, to create a track database. User-friendly software then plots the vertical and gauge-face wear, the percentage of head loss and other parameters.

PLANNING AND SUPERVISION OF RAIL GRINDING PROGRAMS

ARM's experienced field and technical staff analyze rail and wheel conditions and, based on that, they recommend and design rail profiles that match your system's operating and wheel conditions.

A grinding plan is developed using the information gathered by ORMV field inspectors and sample wheel measurements. ARM then manages the entire grinding operation. ARM has extensive experience with large and small grinders on rail freight and transit systems and is uniquely qualified to plan and oversee all phases of grinding plans.

TRAINING AND MONITORING OF WHEEL TRUING PROCEDURES

ARM first measures existing wheel profiles. Improved wheel profiles are then designed to optimize vehicle performance. Wheel truing procedures are also assessed.

ARM's experts in wheel re-profiling equipment and procedures train railway personnel to operate and calibrate the wheel cutting equipment.

ARM's database software is capable of analyzing and integrating ARM- or customer-provided data on wheel and rail wear, ultrasonic-defect and track-geometry.

ARM can also match rail measurements with wheel measurement data to:

• Model wheel / rail contact and interaction
• Predict rail and wheel wear, and plan rail grinding and wheel truing cycles
• Recommend optimized rail and wheel profiles, and grinding and truing cycles

TURNKEY PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT

Turnkey services incorporate all aspects of ARM's broad expertise. ARM's knowledgeable staff and consulting vehicle dynamicists provide high-level expertise and implementation.

We deliver the kind of information that enables you to generate data, forecast maintenance needs and make decisions that can maximize your investment in wheel / rail assets.

Quantifying existing conditions is a fundamental aspect of ARM's turnkey management services. All field work is closely monitored to ensure cost effectiveness and high level quality control. The resulting accurate information allows clients to make fact-based decisions on maintenance and operations.