DB embarks on replacement campaign for concrete sleepers following June derailment
Deutsche Bahn (DB) has embarked on an inspection programme of all concrete sleepers similar to those used on the tracks near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where on June 3 a train derailed that left five people dead and dozens injured.
In a statement released on Wednesday, DB stresses that the inspection and replacement programme does not mean that there is an issue with the concrete sleepers. The company also highlights that the investigation into the accident is still ongoing and that the exact cause has yet to be determined. As such, the inspection are a precautionary measure.
To date, some 200,000 concrete sleepers have already been examined. DB expects that it will have to inspect around 0,25 percent of all sleepers across its network. It does not say what number this translates to.
While several replacements have already been carried out, the company is now working on a comprehensive plan for the remainder of the possible sleeper changes. DB does not rule out disruptions and delays as a result. The affected concrete sleepers are 15 years old on average.
Further reading:
Ballast, now a “problem”, shall be taken advantage of.
(“Optimal”, predictive maintenance, with un dampened, “hung” sleepers, even worse with “eigen freq.:s in resonance, with by System “pin pin” freq. at rail, etc., etc. is suboptimal, by def…)
Capacity of existing, infrastructure and assets, shall be utilitised, by a proactive attending the “bottlenecks”. (Looking for cracks is good, but not attending “root”.)