A review of factors influencing the reliability of railway infrastructure

Abstract : Rail transportation plays a vital role in the conveyance of freight and passengers over varying distances, it is an energy efficient means of transport which offers reduced carbon emissions and low cost per tonne kilometer. Its frequent use necessitates that the reliability of the system is very important for the efficient transportation of passengers and freight. Rail infrastructure requires regular maintenance and inspections to ensure reliability. Rail infrastructure in this research refers only to the per way/rail and not the rolling stock, signaling and communications equipment etc. The current state of railway infrastructure in Africa is very poorly maintained and thus improved measures must be in place to improve the infrastructure reliability. The most occurring rail defects are identified and their frequency/ occurrence is reviewed and discussed as indicated by literature studied in this research. Current rail defect detection and mitigation methods are discussed and this research further suggests procedures or manners in which the said rail defects can be better detected, predicted and mitigated with the aim of improving the status of the rail infrastructure. The research questions and objectives are discussed met and in this research throuh the research methods impleented. The survey conducted suggests that the following must be improved to potentially improve the reliability of the rail/ per way infrastructure;(i) Better defect detection technology, (ii) Education and training for the track maintenance staff, (iii) Improve the frequency of the rail inspection, (iv) Increased maintenance budgets and (v)Increased focus on preventative maintenance procedures.M.Ing. (Engineering Management