Network Rail New Measurement Train
Encyclopedia
The Network Rail
New Measurement Train (NMT) is a specialised train which operates in the United Kingdom to assess the condition of track
so that engineers can determine where to work. It is a specially converted High Speed Train
, consisting of two Class 43 power cars
(from a pool comprising vehicles 43013, 43014 and 43062) and rake of Mark 3
coaches. It can check the condition of most main lines and some secondary routes in Great Britain
over a 13 week rolling cycle.
The train measures the contact between rails, wheels and the overhead electric supply line. Lasers and other instruments are used to make other measurements of the track geometry and other features such as overhead line height and stagger, and the track gauge, twist and cant. On the West Coast Main Line
, particular care has to be taken to ensure that clearances are maintained for the use of tilting trains. The train captures video footage from the front and rear power cars, and video of the pantograph and wheel interfaces.
The NMT was launched in 2003, though the vehicles are much older than this. Due to its all-over yellow livery, it has been nicknamed "The Flying Banana". In 2005 it won an award for Innovation in Engineering at the Railway Forum/Modern Railways
Innovation Awards. Its formation is power car, messing car, development systems vehicle, track recording systems vehicle, meeting coach with conference area, messing car, and power car.
The development systems vehicle includes a vibrating platform close to the rails, detecting missing Pandrol clips. The vehicle also houses the pantograph
used to detect faults in overhead wires. White lights next to the pantograph project a line followed by cameras to enable the height, stagger and wear of the contact wire to be monitored. The wear on the contact wire is measured as the width of a strip on the underside, where the pantographs of trains come into contact and wear away the cable. If the original thickness of the cable is known, this can be converted into a percentage of remaining area, which in turn when related to a maximum allowable wear can give an estimate of the remaining life left. No traction or system power is drawn using the pantograph, as the train is diesel powered.
The track recording systems vehicle has banks of screens allowing the team of 3 operators to view a range of system outputs, including track faults, train location, and radio signal strength.
On 24 March 2009 43013 was delivered to Brush Loughborough for fitting with an MTU
engine. On 23 June 2009, 43013 was released from Brush after fitment of the MTU engine.
7 October 2009 on the 43014 MTU engine was repaired. Finally, in 2010 43062 were last repaired in the Brush.
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
New Measurement Train (NMT) is a specialised train which operates in the United Kingdom to assess the condition of track
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
so that engineers can determine where to work. It is a specially converted High Speed Train
InterCity 125
The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
, consisting of two Class 43 power cars
British Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
(from a pool comprising vehicles 43013, 43014 and 43062) and rake of Mark 3
British Rail Mark 3
British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train...
coaches. It can check the condition of most main lines and some secondary routes in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
over a 13 week rolling cycle.
The train measures the contact between rails, wheels and the overhead electric supply line. Lasers and other instruments are used to make other measurements of the track geometry and other features such as overhead line height and stagger, and the track gauge, twist and cant. On the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
, particular care has to be taken to ensure that clearances are maintained for the use of tilting trains. The train captures video footage from the front and rear power cars, and video of the pantograph and wheel interfaces.
The NMT was launched in 2003, though the vehicles are much older than this. Due to its all-over yellow livery, it has been nicknamed "The Flying Banana". In 2005 it won an award for Innovation in Engineering at the Railway Forum/Modern Railways
Modern Railways
Modern Railways is a British monthly magazine covering the rail transport industry published by Ian Allan. It has been published since 1962....
Innovation Awards. Its formation is power car, messing car, development systems vehicle, track recording systems vehicle, meeting coach with conference area, messing car, and power car.
The development systems vehicle includes a vibrating platform close to the rails, detecting missing Pandrol clips. The vehicle also houses the pantograph
Pantograph (rail)
A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
used to detect faults in overhead wires. White lights next to the pantograph project a line followed by cameras to enable the height, stagger and wear of the contact wire to be monitored. The wear on the contact wire is measured as the width of a strip on the underside, where the pantographs of trains come into contact and wear away the cable. If the original thickness of the cable is known, this can be converted into a percentage of remaining area, which in turn when related to a maximum allowable wear can give an estimate of the remaining life left. No traction or system power is drawn using the pantograph, as the train is diesel powered.
The track recording systems vehicle has banks of screens allowing the team of 3 operators to view a range of system outputs, including track faults, train location, and radio signal strength.
On 24 March 2009 43013 was delivered to Brush Loughborough for fitting with an MTU
MTU Friedrichshafen
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909...
engine. On 23 June 2009, 43013 was released from Brush after fitment of the MTU engine.
7 October 2009 on the 43014 MTU engine was repaired. Finally, in 2010 43062 were last repaired in the Brush.
See also
- Doctor YellowDoctor Yellowis the nickname for the high-speed test trains that are used on the Japanese Shinkansen dedicated express passenger train routes.The trains have special equipment on board to monitor the condition of the track and overhead wire, including special instrumented bogies and observation blisters.The...
- measurement trains in JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... - SNCF TGV Iris 320SNCF TGV Iris 320Iris 320 is a modified TGV train operated by SNCF International as a dedicated track recording train for high-speed railways. The train can run at 320 kilometres-per-hour and consists of two power cars and eight trailers coaches providing 160 metres of laboratory space...
- measurement high speed train in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...