ARGOS - Automated Rail Geospatial Observation System

Public description
The needs of the passenger and freight customers to reach their destination safely are core to rail operator businesses. Railway track geometry faults are hard to identify and as part of a risk-based operation model, a process for the implementation of speed restrictions when these are identified is introduced to maintain an acceptable safety level. In doing so train services are affected and network capacity is reduced.

Thales aims to develop the technology to deploy a geospatially based identification tool, capable of identifying track geometry risks early on and help manage response to minimise disruption to services. The solution will use in-service train data collected with Thales' Robust Train Positioning System, to detect underlying track conditions for analysis. During Phase 1 of the SBRI Geospatial Challenge, Thales will collect data with its partner GWR and analyse the feasibility of the solution.