Analysis of Wheel effects on ICR Fleet

Tender description

Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) are operating the 22000 intercity railcars (ICR) fleet on the IÉ network. This fleet is currently made up of 234 vehicles with a further expected delivery of 41 vehicles in 2022 increasing the fleet to 275 vehicles in total. 177 vehicles originally entered service in 2007 and operated initially with the J-Trec profile, but following initial wheel re-profiling, the fleet was converted to the Modified Heumann wheel profile and operated with a mix of profiles on consists until all wheels were converted to the Modified Heumann wheel profile. The fleet has since operated on this profile for approximately 11-12 years. A further 57 vehicles were introduced to the fleet in 2012 and would have completed approximately 8 years with the Modified Heumann profile. The vast majority of IÉ passenger and freight fleets have operated historically and currently operate with the Modified Heumann wheel thread profile which was developed specifically for IÉ in the 1960’s. The CME department in IÉ have recently been made aware of a difference in some documentation and vehicle dynamics simulations where there are differences between the current operational wheel profile (Modified Heumann) and the profile used for calculations by the OEM for the 22000 fleet. IÉ are looking for an expert consultant in the area of vehicle approvals and vehicle dynamics to complete the relevant analysis, initially desktop calculations and potentially expanding to vehicle modelling if required, of the ICR fleet to determine the effect of two different wheel profiles on the vehicle and to provide a set of recommendations on whether there needs to be any changes factored into IÉ maintenance strategies and documentation because of the differences.