Research and development services and related consultancy services

Tender description

Network Rail would like to transition to a more proactive management of faulty vehicle geometry by developing an accurate and efficient system to measure bogie and underframe deformations in rail vehicles. Ability to measure high volumes of vehicles should enable a nationwide survey of assets and further continuous monitoring of fleets In order to move towards a ‘monitored and early detection’ maintenance regime, Network Rail would like to develop technology to detect operational and inherent geometric twist in the structural frame of a bogie. The equipment should be easy to operate, transport to site and construct in situ; where limited clearances may apply. The technology must be able to do this in a timely and efficient manner. The requirements of the proposed technology are listed below: — measurement of twist in bogie frame, — measurement of twist in vehicle underframe, — identification of geometric non-conformance, — trending of recorded data, — the equipment should be portable and able to be deployed with bogies in situ, — near real time data processing, — the measurement process should fit into the normal maintenance regime and time to complete the measurements should be as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP), — the calibration of the equipment should follow typical timelines of calibrated measurement equipment e.g. annual, — provide maintenance, training and calibration services. The purpose of this RFI is to engage with the supply base and request information relating to the vehicle bogie and underframe deformation measurement tools available in the market. Network Rail are looking for a technologically ready solution of bogie and underframe deformation measurement equipment/process by June 2020. This PIN aims to inform Network Rail of the current market capability and any future development work which may need to be completed to current solutions as part of the deployment or before. Network Rail expect that the equipment will perform quick and sufficiently accurate measurements of vehicle structures with no additional preparation or disassembly of the vehicle equipment needed.