SMV

The importance of proper ballast tamping in turnouts Problem description

Proper ballast tamping in turnouts is vital for safe, efficient operations. Inadequate tamping can cause dips, humps, and misalignments – affecting train stability and detected by measurement trains.

Beyond visible issues, poorly compacted ballast increases dynamic forces on turnout components – especially point machines – causing hidden vibrations that accelerate wear and raise maintenance needs.

Over time, this leads to higher costs and downtime. Consistent, high-quality tamping stabilizes the track, reduces damage, and extends asset life, improving overall network reliability.

Monitoring turnout stability with laser sensors Our Solution

SMV monitors ballast conditions in turnouts using up to four laser-equipped sensors. These measure displacement and vibration continuously during train passages and throughout the day. Data is transmitted via 4G to a secure cloud platform where algorithms detect abnormal movements and trigger alerts. By revealing early signs of degradation, SMV supports predictive maintenance, reduces risks, and extends the lifespan of railway assets.

How it works

Identify abnormal displacements

The display board shows the live status of all connected point machines. Red alarms indicate abnormal vibration. Historical data from the past months can be reviewed.

Define where to prioritize tamping

If vibration levels are increasing, the system predicts when orange and red thresholds will be reached. Alerts appear on the board when these dates approach.

Check tamping effectiveness

Tamping operations are logged and visible on the board, allowing asset managers to easily evaluate the impact and quality of maintenance activities.

Hardware

SMV uses four laser sensors to monitor the movement of point machine supports, connected via cables to a recording box. In addition to displacement measurements, environmental data such as air temperature, humidity, and rail temperature are recorded.

Sensors operate 24/7, capturing data every 5 minutes, while each train passing is recorded every 15 seconds. This continuous data collection ensures accurate monitoring of turnout conditions.

Data is transmitted via 4G once a day to a secure data processing platform, where it undergoes automatic analysis and computing. The results are displayed for immediate review. All relevant data is then sent to the customer, allowing for proactive maintenance and decision-making.

Whitepaper Overview and data sheet

SMV Data Sheet