Fortifying Rail Infrastructure against the Rising tide of Extreme climate events
(Published at RailTech.com 01-07-2025)
The rhythmic clatter of wheels on steel, a sound synonymous with the past two hundred years of railway progress and connectivity, is facing an unprecedented challenge. The escalating frequency and intensity of extreme climate events – from devastating floods to scorching heatwaves, pose a significant threat to the resilience and reliability of railway infrastructure worldwide. Technology can however help to be better prepared.
Next Generation Rail Technologies (NGRT) recognises this critical juncture and is proactively developing and deploying innovative technologies to safeguard our networks, ready them for the challenges ahead and ensure the continued flow of passengers and goods, whatever the weather.
Responding to rising risks
The vulnerability of railway infrastructure to climate change is multifaceted. Tracks can buckle under extreme heat, embankments can be destabilised by prolonged rainfall, and overhead power lines can be brought down by high winds. All these disruptions not only cause significant economic losses through service cancellations and repair costs, but also impact communities and industries dependent on a consistent railway.
"At NGRT, we believe that an initiative-taking, technology-driven approach is paramount in building this resilience. We are moving beyond traditional reactive maintenance strategies and embracing a future where intelligent monitoring and predictive analytics form the bedrock of infrastructure management," says Richard Aaroe, CEO.
Real-time insights from the trackside
NGRT’s commitment lies in developing and implementing innovative solutions that provide early warnings, enable swift responses, and minimize the impact of extreme climate events on railway operations.
The cornerstone of its approach is the deployment of advanced, real-time monitoring systems and sensors. Imagine a network constantly sensing the subtle shifts and changes within the infrastructure. This is possible with the NGRT solution. The system utilises a network of sophisticated sensors strategically placed along the tracks to passively listen and provide the information by connecting to trackside cabinets.
The core applications of the NGRT system protect against:
Flooding: Heavy rainfall and floods can wash away ballast leading to track instability, sinkage, or unevenness, increasing the risk of derailment. Water accumulation can also damage electrical systems and submerge infrastructure.
Heatwaves and High Temperatures: Extreme heat can cause tracks to buckle due to thermal expansion, leading to speed restrictions and potential derailments.
Strong Winds: High winds can damage overhead lines, blow debris onto tracks, and even affect the stability of high-profile trains. Trees can often blow over and fall on the track. Coastal railway lines are particularly vulnerable to storm surges and coastal erosion.
The data generated by these sensors is processed in real time by a sophisticated trackside cabinet, which holds a computing unit. Using advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques, the data is analysed, and relevant alerts then sent to the client’s control centre. The system can …
Issue Early Warnings: When critical thresholds are breached or unusual patterns are detected, this automatically triggers real-time alerts to relevant personnel. These alerts provide crucial information about the nature and location of the potential hazard, allowing for rapid assessment and response. For example, if large rocks fall onto the track, an alert is sent which allows operators to implement temporary speed restrictions or even halt service.
Predict Potential Failures: By analysing historical data and real-time trends, the system can identify patterns that may indicate an increased risk of infrastructure problems. This predictive capability allows for proactive maintenance before issues escalate into costly disruptions. For instance, once a crack starts to form in a rail, its acoustic pattern will change, and it will emit an abnormal energy. The NGRT system can identify this crack and trigger an alert before it becomes a full rail separation.
Optimise Maintenance Schedules: The data-driven insights provided by the NGRT system enable a shift from reactive to initiative-taking and predictive maintenance strategies. Resources can be allocated more efficiently to address areas with the highest risk, optimising maintenance schedules and reducing overall costs.
Provide Post-Event Analysis: Following, for example, an extreme weather event, the data collected by the monitoring systems can be utilised to assess the extent of the damage, identify vulnerable areas, and used to inform future infrastructure upgrades and resilience strategies.
Being proactive
The journey towards a truly climate-resilient railway network is an ongoing one. It requires continuous innovation, investment, and a steadfast commitment to embracing modern technologies and strategies.
"At NGRT, we are proud to be at the forefront of this endeavour, driven by our unwavering dedication to providing safe, dependable, and sustainable transportation for generations to come, even in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate," says Aaroe.
The NGRT approach is shaped by close collaboration with public agencies, research bodies and industry stakeholders and while technology alone cannot eliminate risk, NGRT argues that intelligent monitoring will play a key role in helping railway systems adapt to an increasingly unpredictable climate. By combining early warnings, predictive maintenance, and post-event data analysis, such tools may offer rail operators a more efficient and sustainable path forward.
"By embracing intelligent monitoring and taking proactive measures, we are confident in our ability to lessen the risks to infrastructure, rolling stock, passengers, and workers on the railway, regardless of rain, hail or shine." Stephen Daly – NGRT.
