German Railway extended its RIGA advanced train maintenance reporting system to five more depots from the timetable change on June 1. Developed by Krupp Timtec Telematik, RIGA dispenses with much overnight train maintenance and hand-written and faxed material. The first phase of the pilot project was completed in October 1996 and around 1000 of DB’s EuroCity, InterCity and InterRegio vehicles are now covered.
DB maintenance staff carrying hand-held computers board trains 1 or 2 h before they reach their terminus, and check the interior. Problems such as damage or soiling to seats and interiors are recorded using one of 2000 error codes. The information is passed via Modacom to a central computer in Hamburg which holds full details of the train’s route. Maintenance requirements are then sent by ISDN straight to the depot which will receive the train at the end of its journey. A similar external inspection is carried out by another member of staff as soon as the train arrives at its destination.
Krupp Timtec Telematik
Lünen, Germany
Reader Enquiry Number: 141
