ATOC

ATOC responds to rail safety report
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date 18 January 2001
source ATOC
type Press release

Commenting on the gauge corner cracking report released tonight by Railtrack, ATOC Director General, George Muir, said: "This report points forward to better engineering and maintenance of the track".

"The report summarises the causes of gauge corner cracking and the measures needed to control it. With this report we are satisfied that Railtrack now has effective measures in place to control wear on the rail safely".

"But we must go further if we are to achieve the kind of high intensity, high reliability railway we all want. We must apply better technology for monitoring the condition of the rail, and, though wheels and axles are subject to rigorous inspection, we will explore ways to maintain wheels to finer tolerances".

"The industry has already met to decide on the structure for the Wheel/Track Systems Authority recommended in the report. This authority, a cross industry body, will address design issues for the critical wheel track interface. If we can develop a deeper scientific understanding of this interface, and apply it in practice the whole industry will benefit".

"This Systems Authority is part of our objective to develop across the whole railway, a comprehensive strategy for engineering and technology aimed at removing all failures of equipment."

ENDS

For more information: ATOC press office (020) 7904 3010

Railhub Archive ::: 2001-01-18 ATO-001