Vaisala IceCast Conductor Rail Ice System

Ice on the conductor (power) rail is a significant problem, causing trains to lose power, leading to service disruption, and stranded trains and passengers.

The Conductor Rail Ice System warns users of the presence of ice, frost and snow and when these events are likely to occur on the conductor rails.  By knowing in advance when ice is likely to occur, significant cost savings will be realised by only putting down anti-icing chemicals when required.

The System uses an innovative technique, whereby a sensor embedded within a reference section of conductor rail is used to report temperature and state (ice, frost, snow, wet, moist, dry) of the rail. 

The section of conductor rail is normally supported by ballast mounted sleepers and 'conductor pots', located close to, but a safe distance from the main rails. This allows users to safely and remotely monitor the conductor rail temperature and state.

At least one conductor rail ice weather station would normally be located within each climatic domain and/or at known trouble spots.

Data from the conductor rail sensor provides a feed into the 24 hour site-specific forecast model to give advance warning of the risk of ice, frost and snow on the rail.  The site-specific forecasts are verified using the weather station data, providing the basis of a conductor rail ice monitoring and prediction system.

Site specific conductor  (3rd Power) rail forecast and actual sensor data overlay as displayed within IceView. (Forecast copyright PA WeatherCentre)

The system provides an additional input into the decision-making process to introduce sleet / anti-icing trains and to allow engineering works to run - all aiding the uninterrupted running of the railway.

The Conductor Rail Ice Weather Station comprises: a DRS511 conductor rail sensor; HMP45D air temperatureand relative humidity sensor;  WAA151/WAV151, WMS301 or WS425 wind speed, direction and gust sensors; along with a DRD11 precipitation sensor.