Technology advance promises to end track switch failures

System uses concepts derived from aerospace and the nuclear industry to bypass the problem of derailment at failed switches

Engineers at Loughborough University have entered into the next stage of development of rail track switch technology with the aim of increasing reliability, reducing maintenance costs and boosting network capacity.

Repoint uses safety concepts derived from aerospace and the nuclear industry to bypass the problem of derailment at failed switches, which still happens despite modern sensing, intensive inspection and maintenance regimes.

Repoint features a patented arrangement of interlocking rail ends and a lift and drop mechanism which provides a locking system with virtually no friction losses. It can also move the switch many times quicker than existing designs. 

Instead of pushing the switch rails from side to side and locking them in place actively like a traditional switch, Repoint picks the rails up, hops them across and drops them down so they are locked in place passively. This allows multiple actuators to be used on the same set of points, giving redundancy and improved availability.

Combined with condition-based monitoring and line replaceable unit construction, the Repoint switches are said to be fault tolerant and do not require instant action in the event of a fault.

The 30-month project at Loughborough, which is supported by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), will result in a full-scale prototype track switch developed and deployed. 

Professor Roger Dixon, head of the Control Systems Research Group at the university, said: “Great Britain’s rail network is under pressure to provide increased capacity and reliability at a reduced cost. With the support of RSSB, we can make track switch failures a thing of the past by introducing a cost-effective alternative which has not been seen before.”

Opportunities are also being pursued with development partners to roll out the technology in South Africa, Australia and China.

Dixon said: “Moving from technology readiness levels three and four to level seven will involve solving real-world issues such as environment and signal integration. That’s why we’re engaging with industrial partners and will shortly be releasing an invitation to tender.

“As well as discussions with end users, we have been actively engaged in initial commercial discussions with point machine manufacturers in the UK and internationally for the last couple of years.”