A state-of-the-art simulation tool to help maintain safer track conditions across the world's railways.
PUPIL - Track Geometry Assessments
Using its internal library of vehicle types, speeds and loading conditions - combined with track measurements - PUPIL simulates vehicle reactions to provide assessments of track forces and Y/Q safety against derailment coefficient and car body accelerations.
“PUPIL has been used by the Dutch infrastructure manager, ProRail, for more than 15 years and remains the only tool utilised for assessing track geometric quality across the Dutch rail network.
"PUPIL clearly locates critical sections on the network - we now find 70% more defects than had we continued to use standard evaluation tools".”
ProRail's experience with PUPIL
Features of the PUPIL system
- Detailed assessments of track geometric quality (level, alignment, cant, twist).
- Safety assessment based on EN14363.
- Library of 20 vehicle types including passenger trains, locomotives and freight wagons.
- Identify multiple defects in the same location and periodic defects (such as cyclic top).
- Advice on safe speed/restriction.
- Fast processing due to smart model reduction.
- Compliance to EN13848-1.
- Compatible with standard output of track measuring cars.
- NEW: Track geometry assessment in switches.
- NEW: Advice on appropriate track repair action.
Benefits of working with Ricardo
PUPIL will increase safety performance across your network; reduce track maintenance costs; and, by advising on safe speed limits on sections that require monitoring, help maximise track capacity.
Furthermore, improved ride comfort experienced by passengers also leads to higher passenger satisfaction.
Following 15 use of PUPIL, Dutch infrastructure manager, ProRail, has reported the following benefits:
- No derailments due to track geometry faults.
- No unnecessary speed restrictions.
- More ratio behind limits.
- Reliable expert judgement.
If you are interested in what PUPIL can do for you, we can perform a demonstration of its analysis using any measured track data you can provide.
PUPIL analyses the measurement data (level, alignment, cant, twist, curve radius, etc.) captured by track geometry measuring cars.
Then, using a representative selection of vehicle types, speeds and loading conditions that operate on a network, PUPIL prepares a simulation model to determine track forces, Y/Q safety against derailment coefficient and car body accelerations.
For each track section, all modelled vehicles are simulated as if running on the track section. The most critical configuration determines the safety factor relative to the limit values from euronorm EN14363.
Other assessment levels - such as Alert or Maintenance limits - can provide information for maintenance planning.
To support maintenance processes, PUPIL can also provide information on the cause of the exceedance. For example, an exceedance on maximum lateral track force could originate from an alignment defect 30 meters back.
How PUPIL is used on the Dutch network
Meet the PUPIL team
Our experts will oversee every aspect of the introduction of PUPIL onto your network and integration of its outputs into your maintenance processes.
PUPIL: Factsheet
View a copy of the current PUPIL factsheet