track monitoring services

Saudi Arabia’s SAR contracts Perpetuum to provide track condition information services. Credit: Lijorijo at Malayalam Wikipedia.

Perpetuum has secured a contract from the Saudi Railway Company (SAR) to offer track condition information services for the 1250km-long rail line from Riyadh to Qurrayat.

The two-year deal to supply a vibration-based track condition monitoring system is the company’s first contract in the Middle East.

Perpetuum commercial director Justin Southcombe said: “We are delighted to announce our first contact in the Middle East with SAR.

“It is another stage in our global growth and development and illustrates why remote condition monitoring is so important to the rail industry.”

“It is another stage in our global growth and development and illustrates why remote condition monitoring is so important to the rail industry.”

According to Perpetuum, Saudi Arabian railway faces one of the most extreme weather conditions in the world, with a predominantly desert environment and temperatures often reaching more than 55°C.

SAR aims to support its condition based maintenance management on the line and prioritise repair and corrective works.

The self-powered, wireless sensing technology will help SAR to receive real-time information on track conditions. Additionally, it will help to increase operational safety.

As part of the track monitoring services contract, Perpetuum will supply equipment for two SAR passenger trains.

SAR head of Rolling Stock Ashrf Al Jabri said: “This is a great step for SAR in its journey to implement a condition based maintenance management strategy and we look forward to the exciting opportunities our partnership with Perpetuum will bring.”