Analysis of track geometry index measurement methods

Abstract

Degradation of railway track can be described by main geometry parameters such as profile, alignment, gauge, cant, and twist but track geometry quality index can be used for aggregating two or more geometric defects and represent health condition of track structure. This paper discusses different methods of quality indexes and analyzes numerically three methods based on real track geometry measurement data from Addis Ababa – Djibouti railway line and their advantages discussed for the purpose of recommending TQI method for predicting future state of track which will be used in Predictive maintenance. Data collected is from 25-27 of May 2020 for 215.8Km length. Results from analysis shows, track geometry index (TGI) represents track quality more reasonably. Chinese TQI method can also represent track quality but gives equal weightage for all types of degradation parameters on the other hand TGI allocated more weightage for parameters with higher effect on ride quality. J synthetic method can only represent two types of quality below and above threshold but the two other methods represent more quality levels. Theoretically, advantages and disadvantages of methods discussed can be referred but practically recommended method can be used in prediction models for implementing predictive maintenance.