Modelling rail track deterioration and maintenance: Current practices and future needs

As commercialization and privatization of railway systems reach the political agendas in a number of countries, including Australia, the separation of infrastructure from operating business dictates that track costs need to be shared on an equitable basis. There is also a world-wide trend towards increased pressures on rail track infrastructure through increases in axle loads and train speeds. Such productivity and customer service driven pressures inevitably lead to reductions in the life of track components and increases in track maintenance costs. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of track degradation modelling, as well as an overview of track maintenance decision support systems currently in use in North America and Europe. The essential elements of a maintenance optimization model currently under development are also highlighted.