Keywords: asset management, switch heating, switch roof, reliability, innovation.

In winter time, snow and ice is a common problem in switches in many railway networks. Every asset manager tries to prevent failures as much as possible. The actual heating systems however are not always sufficient to prevent failures due to snow or ice. Several initiatives have been taken to have a snow or ice free switch such as more isolation of the tongue, improvement of heating ribbons or even a vertical movement of the switch tongue.

In this paper two alternatives are considered, switch inductive heating as an idea for alternative heating and a switch roof to add to or replace the actual heating systems. The development of a switch roof to prevent ice-blocks falling in the open area between tongue and stock rail. The research on a roof for a switch has resulted in a proto-type tested in The Netherlands. After the proto-type the design has been optimized and is now ready for wider tests. This idea to make a switch roof is discussed in more detail in this paper.

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £22)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to the book description
purchase this book (price £85 +P&P)