RB flags lax investigation in spring and brake faults
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

RB flags lax investigation in spring and brake faults

The Railway Board has issued a directive for a more comprehensive investigation into cases where mechanical probes have reported no defects, even as automated systems have raised concerns. In a letter addressed to zonal railways earlier this month, the Railway Board expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of Primary Spring failures and brake binding in coaches.

These automated alerts, generated by the On-line Monitoring of Rolling Stock System (OMRS), rely on acoustic analysis along railway tracks to evaluate the health of rail equipment. However, discrepancies have emerged during physical examinations that follow alerts from the Wheel Condition Monitor (WCM), which typically lead to the replacement of railway wheels after defects are identified.

"While scrutinizing failure reports with high OMRS alert values (> 350KN) for coaches, it has come to our attention that some Railways have reported 'no defect found,'" the Railway Board stated in its communication. Likewise, in cases of brake binding, frequent remarks indicating "nothing found wrong" have been observed.

Brake binding refers to instances when the train's brakes fail to return to their original position after deployment, resulting in potential damage to the train's equipment and safety concerns.

The Railway Board's call for a more in-depth investigation aims to address these disparities between automated alerts and subsequent mechanical inspections. Ensuring the safety and reliability of railway equipment remains paramount, and this directive underscores the commitment to maintaining the highest standards of rail safety in the United Kingdom.

The Railway Board has issued a directive for a more comprehensive investigation into cases where mechanical probes have reported no defects, even as automated systems have raised concerns. In a letter addressed to zonal railways earlier this month, the Railway Board expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of Primary Spring failures and brake binding in coaches. These automated alerts, generated by the On-line Monitoring of Rolling Stock System (OMRS), rely on acoustic analysis along railway tracks to evaluate the health of rail equipment. However, discrepancies have emerged during physical examinations that follow alerts from the Wheel Condition Monitor (WCM), which typically lead to the replacement of railway wheels after defects are identified. While scrutinizing failure reports with high OMRS alert values (> 350KN) for coaches, it has come to our attention that some Railways have reported 'no defect found,' the Railway Board stated in its communication. Likewise, in cases of brake binding, frequent remarks indicating nothing found wrong have been observed. Brake binding refers to instances when the train's brakes fail to return to their original position after deployment, resulting in potential damage to the train's equipment and safety concerns. The Railway Board's call for a more in-depth investigation aims to address these disparities between automated alerts and subsequent mechanical inspections. Ensuring the safety and reliability of railway equipment remains paramount, and this directive underscores the commitment to maintaining the highest standards of rail safety in the United Kingdom.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

KONE Opens India's First Digital Experience Centre in Pune

KONE, a global elevator and escalator manufacturer, has inaugurated its first Digital Experience Centre (DEC) in India, located in Pune. The facility aims to showcase how artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity and data-driven technologies can enhance customer experiences and improve building operations.The centre was inaugurated by Jussi Herlin, Executive Vice Chair, KONE Corporation; Philippe Delorme, President and CEO, KONE; and Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Infosys.Designed as an interactive customer environment, the facility demonstrates digital solutions cover..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

CII GreenCo Launches Circularity Guidelines for Indian Industry

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) GreenCo Council has launched the CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version at the 17th CII GreenCo Waste & Resource Management Summit 2026 in Chennai. The initiative aims to strengthen resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular economy practices across Indian manufacturing and process industries.The guidelines introduce a structured framework with circularity indices covering raw materials, consumables, packaging and other resource inputs. These indicators will help industries assess existing practices, identify opportunities to ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Global Electronics Association Launches IPC-1783-CO2E Standard

The Global Electronics Association has introduced IPC-1783-CO2E, a new international standard aimed at improving consistency, transparency and comparability in product carbon footprint reporting across the electronics manufacturing industry.The standard, titled International Standard for Data Collection and Reporting of CO2 Equivalent (CO2e) Emissions for the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain, provides industry-specific guidance for collecting, estimating and reporting carbon emissions data.With increasing regulatory requirements and customer expectations, electronics manufacturers face c..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code