PUPIL
Robust insights for safe railways and effective track maintenance
Track defects and damage across rail networks is significantly increasing worldwide as a result of the higher levels of rail traffic and new developments in heavier rolling stock. Advances in remote condition monitoring mean that the rail industry is getting better at detecting problems, but operators and maintainers are often overwhelmed by these data-intensive systems.
At the same time, operators face rapidly evolving regulatory requirements and, the often competing pressures, of ensuring network availability, while maintaining strict safety standards. The challenges faced by infrastructure managers and maintainers are greater than ever.
Ricardo recognises that safety insights and asset intelligence are no longer a choice, but a necessity. This is why we developed PUPIL, an advanced digital twin that models the interaction between track and train, to demonstrably deliver improved track availability, minimise vehicle derailment risks due to track geometry, and enhance safety across rail networks.
Enhancing your track maintenance
PUPIL seamlessly utilises real-world track geometry measurements from your existing data collection solutions, providing a comprehensive analysis to enhance track oversight. Track geometry data is combined with digital models of common vehicle types to enhance and quantify the assessment of derailment risk. It delivers precise simulations, contextual advice for maintenance optimisation, and data-driven insights to inform network management.
PUPIL’s maintenance module delivers detailed insights that support cost-effective and responsive maintenance scheduling. Utilising its advanced analytical engine, PUPIL specifies the precise track geometry adjustments needed to reduce critical and non-critical safety risks.
PUPIL will prioritise track maintenance activities, including user-specified constraints helping to optimise network availability and safety in-line with your preferences.
PUPIL features a detailed suite of rolling stock models including locomotives, wagons, multiple units, high-speed, single and double-deck vehicle types. Simulation of a range of representative vehicles enables a proportionate response to track geometry defects to be identified through context-driven analysis of vehicle performance.
Implementing blanket speed restrictions is one response to the risk of derailment due to track geometry, but these can have severe adverse knock-on effects. PUPIL ensures the most effective operational response is made for each combination of track geometry features in each specific location on the network.
PUPIL has been built to simplify the process of understanding and aligning with relevant safety regulations. As an implementation of the Vehicle Response Analysis (VRA) set out in the European Track Geometry Quality Standard (EN13848), PUPIL makes it easier to demonstrate compliance with track geometry limits and offers peace of mind in response to regulatory obligations.
Enhance your maintenance efficiency
Derailment risk is influenced by several features of track geometry including level, alignment, twist, cant, curve, and radius. When these influences act in combination it can be difficult to identify the remedial measures required.
PUPIL's advanced maintenance capabilities can advise on the specific activities required to bring track geometry defects back within safe operating limits. By combining the quantified assessment of derailment risk with recommendations regarding the extent of maintenance activity required, PUPIL can also support the scheduling and optimisation of maintenance activity and budgets.
Tailor your operational actions
Implementing blanket speed restrictions to manage derailment risk are often well intentioned, but can create additional challenges, such as longer journey times, increased risk of signals passed at danger (SPADs) and unnecessary delays to many other journeys, which can subsequently create significant revenue costs and financial penalties.
PUPIL offers an operational planning tool that evaluates safety risk and uses that to ensure that ensure that rail’s response to track geometry defects is proportionate.
Improving your safety performance
Outdated methods of safety management, such as track walks and visual inspections, are not only costly, but they come with inherent risks associated with placing people into the operational railway environment.
Using PUPIL you will be able to deliver streamlined, consistent reporting of safety performance in respect to track geometry standards, such as EN13848, and embed innovative safety management systems that demonstrate you are going beyond basic compliance.
