BEKASI (07/11) - The Railway Testing Center, is one of the work units under the Directorate General of Railways, Ministry of Transportation, which has an important role in maintaining the safety and quality of railway infrastructure in Indonesia.

The role of railways is to guide the movement or travel of locomotives, bear the comprehensive effects of the contribution of environmental variables and loads from wheels, distribute wheel loads to railways, bridges, or tunnels, provide smooth tracks for running wheels, keep operating costs, travel safety and passenger comfort within an acceptable range, and bearings in good condition.

The railway is one of the vital modes of transportation in various countries. To ensure the safety, reliability, and optimum performance of the railways, it is important to conduct regular testing and maintenance. One of the tools used in such testing is the Track Geometry Trolley (TGT).

The Track Geometry Trolley (TGT) is a specialized tool designed to collect railroad geometry data. The vehicle is equipped with various instruments and sensors that allow measurement and analysis of various track geometry parameters, such as Alignment, Crosslevel/Cant, and Gauge.

Railway track measurement using the Track Geometry Trolley (TGT) plays an important role in maintaining safe operation and passenger comfort. The overall quality of track geometry affects the dynamic performance of trains and the external factors that cause track deformation.

The quality of railroad track geometry has a decisive influence on the dynamic performance of the vehicle track. The safe operation of trains and the comfort of passengers depend to a large extent on the smooth running of railroad tracks, especially for high-speed railways.

The Railway Testing Center uses Abtust Limited and Amberg TGTs for the first and periodic testing of railway tracks. Abtust Limited has 3 components attached to the tool, namely sensors on the right, left, and center.

 

The parameters that can be used with Abtust Limited are as follows:

1. Railroad width (Track Gauge) is the width between the inner side of the rail head on the railroad track.
2. Height difference (Cant) or Crosslevel is the height difference between the two sides of the railroad at one point.
3. Twist (skilu in Indonesian) or height difference is the difference in the height of the railroad surface at two measurement points along 3 (three) meters or in practice, the distance between 6 bearings from axis to axis (60 cm between the two axes of consecutive bearings).
4. On the horizontal curve, it can be seen how much elevation and widening there is in the form of a graph.
5. Abtust Limited can only measure the railroad with a width of 1067 mm, cannot be used to measure the railroad with a width of 1435 mm.

The following is an explanation of the operation of Abtust Limited during railroad track testing on the crossing:

1. The TGT wheels are placed on the rail head. Then the assembly is done until the device is fully assembled.
2. Prepare a tablet or portable computer device that can connect to the TGT. The function of the tablet or computer device is to directly store the resulting rail track test data.
3. When the TGT is fully assembled, the test equipment can be pushed on foot with an average speed of 5–10 km/h, or it can also be pulled by a lorry with a maximum speed of 20 km/h. If the speed is above 20 km/h, the TGT can be pushed on foot. If the speed is above 20 km/h, the TGT cannot read the required results.
4. The listed results will be analyzed again by the Testing Team of the Railway Testing Center Infrastructure to generate a graph that may be easily understood.

This tool is often put on the rail surface and dragged or driven independently by other trains.

 The measurements taken from these devices provide important information to railroad infrastructure operators on a regular basis.

The Benefits of Rail Geometry Testing.

Rail geometry testing has significant benefits in maintaining railway infrastructure. Some of the benefits include:

1. Safety.

Identifies potentially dangerous rail geometry issues so that corrective actions can be taken to prevent accidents.

1. Passenger Comfort.

Ensures a smoother and more comfortable ride quality for passengers by avoiding shocks caused by poor rail geometry.

1. Efficient Maintenance.

Enables timely maintenance planning, which can reduce long-term maintenance costs and extend equipment and rail life.

1. Operational Optimization.

Improves operational efficiency by ensuring trains run at the specified speed without the risk of damage or operational problems.  Track Geometry Trolley (TGT) serves to monitor and analyze the condition of railway track geometry. The data collected by the TGT is used to identify problems or discrepancies on the railroad track, which can include alignment discrepancies, inadequate slope, and excessive gaps between rails. This information is critical to the safety and efficiency of railroad operations.

The Track Geometry Trolley (TGT) generally consists of several main components, including:

1. Measurement instruments.

The TGT is equipped with precision measurement instruments capable of collecting accurate track geometry data. These instruments include lasers, acoustic sensors, and other tools for measuring test parameters.

1. Data recording system.

The data collected by the TGT is recorded using an integrated data recording system. This system can store data in real-time and organize the data in a format that is easy to analyze.

1. Navigation system.

To collect data accurately, the TGT is equipped with a navigation system that ensures the position and speed of the TGT during the test. This enables precise data recording of the location being tested.

1. Communication and data processing.

TGTs often have the ability to send data in real-time or via internal storage that can be accessed after the test. This allows for quick and efficient analysis of the collected data.

The use of TGTs in railway testing provides significant benefits, including:

1. A shortened time for collecting data in the field.

During field data collection, the Railway Testing Center's infrastructure testing team can get three times faster and more accurate data collection at one time.

1. Early detection of problems.

TGT can identify problems in track geometry before they impact safety or on-time performance.

1. Operational efficiency.

Using the data collected by TGT, Railway Testing Centers can optimize on-track testing activities. This can make it easier for track and railway building testing teams when testing on long stretches of track.

Rail geometry testing using TGT is an important test in maintaining the safety and quality of railway infrastructure in Indonesia. The Railway Testing Center has a major role in carrying out this test to ensure that the Railway remains in good condition.

 

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