6. Method for estimating snow accretion and snow dropping of a train vehicle for investigating countermeasures against snow dropping

In snowy areas, snow thrown up by moving vehicles can settle on cover plates of bogies and the accumulated snow can drop off while the train is moving, possibly damaging ground equipment.
To efficiently and effectively implement measures against snow accretion and dropping, we developed a method for estimating the snow accretion and snow dropping of a train vehicle.
This method can be used to estimate the amount of accumulated snow and the location where snow drops off in real time, based on information about train operation and weather along the line.

Previous methods did not take into account snow dropping except in long tunnels. This method can calculate the amount of snow accretion on the cover plate of a bogie in open sections using the snow accretion rate determined in advance by an already developed snow accretion simulator, based on information about weather along the line.
In addition, it can take into account the loss of snow when snow drops off in warmer environments such as tunnels.
The method is therefore capable of estimating the rate of snow accretion in real time (Fig. 1).

We confirmed that this method is able to estimate the snow accretion rate on arrival at a station with an error of approximately 3 cm (Fig. 2) and to estimate the sections in tunnels where snow drops off frequently with an error of approximately 2 km (Fig. 3).

The estimated amount of snow accretion on arrival at a station can be used to determine whether snow removal work is necessary or not. Estimation of sections where snow drops off frequently can be useful in planning equipment inspections and prioritizing countermeasures against snow dropping.