COMMUTER operator Metro-North Railroad, part of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), is to test an automated rolling stock inspection system.
MTA will use a $US 2m federal grant to test the system on commuter lines in New York and Connecticut, which it says will provide “early detections of existing and future defects, allowing conditions to be addressed immediately, reducing repair and replacement time.”
The computer-based system will permit Metro-North to conduct daily Federal Railroad Administration-mandated rail vehicle inspections “more efficiently,” according to MTA. The system uses a suite of sensors and software that the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) says will create automated alerts of “undesirable conditions.”
The pilot is one of 34 projects selected for USDOT’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionising Transportation (Smart) grants programme for fiscal year 2023. Earlier this month USDOT announced the awards for Stage 1 of Smart’s two-stage programme, which includes planning and prototyping.
“Metro-North is always looking for opportunities to innovate and be more efficient in how we maintain our systems and equipment and provide service to our customers,” says Ms Catherine Rinaldi, Metro-North Railroad’s president. “With federal funding from Smart, we can explore new industry advancements to improve our maintenance practices, which will enhance the safety and overall reliability of our service.”
The post Metro-North pilots automated rolling stock inspection appeared first on International Railway Journal.
