Modeling the Transition of Track Condition and Decision-Making in Track Maintenance Policy
Masashi MIWA , Masao UCHIDA
Maintenance strategy has a great deal of influence on economic activities of a railway company. Therefore the problems of planning a maintenance job, controlling the maintenance action and assessing the results of maintenance activities are keys to reducing or eliminating the maintenance costs. In this paper, transition of track condition (growth and recovery from track irregularity) is analyzed using a probabilistic model. Further, applying this model, a new procedure is formulated under the criterion to minimize both maintenance costs and the losses suffered when degradation exceeds required level of correction in terms of riding quality and safety, and time taken for it. Finally, the features of track maintenance proposed are analyzed citing several practical examples.