Condition Monitoring of Track Geometry in UK Rail

Track maintenance policies have traditionally been looked on as engineering led decisions. Maintenance actions have been typically based on use of exceedence thresholds each measurement is compared against a preset threshold such that if it exceeds the threshold then maintenance is done. This paper make two significant contribution one explaining various track geometry parameters in UK rail industry and second it looks at condition monitoring by investigating various correlations that exists among track geometry parameters. Besides it, this in depth correlation analysis interpretation actually reconciles theoretical correlations with the practical experimental results in both by positive and negative signs and by values. Such a way is likely to lead to very significant rail track maintenance productivity gains. This is particularly so in cases when current practices rely on traditional, conservative, engineering judgment. It will also help in visualizing affects of rail track condition on business activities.