GEOMETRY: Eurailscout's latest Switch Inspection & Measurement Vehicle combines video inspection of turnouts with automated measurement of their geometry.
Based in Amersfoort, the company has been undertaking video inspection of track and turnouts for ProRail for several years, and the SIMV reflects current trends in combining video and geometry recordings.
High-resolution linescan pictures of the rails and components plus a panoramic driver's-eye view of the track are combined with track geometry and rail profile measurements covering all components of the switch and crossing. With regular inspection, this allows the operator to build up a detailed knowledge of the condition and deterioration of each turnout.
Coupled to a locomotive, the low-profile vehicle can run at up to 80 km/h on plain line and 40 km/h in switches.
