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Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the main passenger rail operator in the Netherlands, has announced a “pioneering” project, aiming to revolutionise the efficiency of fleet inspections. This project will be undertaken in cooperation with CAF Digital Services (CAF), Camlin Rail and Arcadis.
CAF was selected in 2021 by NS to participate in a unique project in the railway industry with state-of-the-art technologies, comprising its leading digital platform, LeadMind, as well as Camlin Rail’s TrainVue in-service inspection system. The system will be deployed across ten strategic locations along the mainline serviced by NS, creating a nationwide network. NS, collaborated with Arcadis, CAF and Camlin Rail to develop a generic ‘default model’ of the civil structure portal structure using BIM.
Under the contract CAF Digital Services’ LeadMind platform will seamlessly integrate with Camlin’s TrainVue to provide bogie and pantograph images under a solution that will support NS in the adoption of technological advancements for a more efficient railway maintenance.
The deployment includes the installation of 10 TrainVue systems in total, capturing high-resolution 3D and 2D images of pantograph and bogie, crucial components for maintaining fleet reliability, availability and safety. The National Roll out is now underway and follows the successful delivery of a pilot project in which the first two systems were commissioned, installed and validated initially, in collaboration between NS, Camlin Rail, CAF and Arcadis.
Discussing the collaboration, Paul Fleming, Managing Director of Camlin Rail, emphasised the joint effort between the companies. He highlighted the success of the pilot project which showcased the quality and reliability of the TrainVue system, to acquire high resolution images for both automatic and manual inspection of the NS fleet.
He said: "The contract with NS reflects the outstanding pilot delivery of our in-service inspection systems. Our collaboration underscores our collective commitment to revolutionise rail safety and efficiency worldwide and the positive feedback from both NS and the wider market supports our strategy of in-service inspection of rolling stock.
“This contract marks a milestone, as it signifies the first time in Europe where a train operator (NS) has installed train inspection equipment (TrainVue) on an infrastructure owner's (ProRail) property, demonstrating scalability and innovation in rail monitoring solutions. The joint effort between NS, CAF, Camlin Rail and Arcadis emphasises a collaborative approach to deliver cutting-edge solutions. Leveraging Camlin Rail's expertise and hardware combined with CAF's LeadMind platform and Arcadis’s knowledge of Dutch railway and design solutions, the collaboration aims to enhance passenger safety, improve operational efficiency (rolling stock maintenance), and contribute to sustainable transportation solutions for the Netherlands.”