At the invitation of the Polish Railways (PKP), a meeting of experts was held on 7 and 8 April 2010 in Cracow on the subject of the UIC “Update Leaflet 421” project and the UIC “TrainDy Software” (TDS) special group. The meeting was attended by Pawel Bannach (PKP), Dr Lars Müller, the UIC Project Leader (DB Systemtechnik), and Mr Karr (Rail Cargo Austria), T. Durand, (SNCF) Messrs Karbsten and Jakobi (DB AG) and Mr Vantone (Tor Vergata University in Rome).
Update UIC-Leaflet 421:
The aim of the project is for UIC Leaflet 421 to take into account the changed economic conditions brought about by the increase of permissible total train weight to > 1,200 t for cross-border traffic in the European Union (EU). This shall be achieved by amending the train consist rules currently set out in UIC Leaflet 421 to include total train weights > 1,200 t. For this purpose a method needs to be developed which enables the influential parameters (track radius, incline, train length and weight, etc.) to be taken into account.
The aims of the meeting were to determine new values for total train weights in UIC Leaflet 421 and hold a final discussion on the international approval of a general method for determining the probability of derailment for freight trains. Both objectives were met, and SET 03 shall address these topics and vote on them at its meeting in June 2010.
TrainDy Software (TDS) special group:
The purpose of the “TrainDy Software” (TDS) special group is the further development and commercialisation of the UIC “TrainDy” software system, developed to calculate longitudinal dynamic forces for freight trains (version 0.3.5 was officially approved on 1 September 2008). It has the following uses:
- simulation of new configurations (longer, heavier and faster trains),
- simulation of the behaviour of innovative new components (for example brake blocks),
- calculation of rail accidents.
TrainDy Software forms the basis of the UIC “Update Leaflet 421” project. Therefore the biannual meeting of the UIC “TrainDy Software” special group took place immediately afterwards, also at the invitation of PKP. Since both meetings had virtually the same participants, grouping together both activities also minimised expenditure. In addition to the aforementioned railways, the manufacturing sector is also participating in this working group through Faiveley Transport, Turin, Italy, and its representative Mr Francesco Demaria, and KNORR Bremse (Munich, Germany).
The meeting was a success: future developments, for example precise simulation of wheel-rail contact, were discussed, as well as the further commercialisation of the system by UIC.
One of the conclusions was that there was a potential for commercialising the simulation of longitudinal dynamics beyond the European market. According to the experts, integrating AAR components would give the UIC TDS system a great chance of establishing itself in Asian, Australian, and North and South American markets. Marketing expenditure would be necessary for this purpose, and was being considered.
The current members of the “TrainDy-Software” (TDS) special group are Deutsche Bahn AG, SNCF, TRENITALIA, Faiveley Transport Italy, Tor Vergata University in Rome and Knorr-Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH (Deutschland). These memberships are based on an MoU signed by each member with UIC. The group is open to new members; railways, manufacturers, research institutes or universities may join for an entrance fee and an annual fee.
