Scott Mather
Toronto Transit Commission
Teever Handal
Advanced Rail Management
Abstract:
Wheel/Rail Interface Optimization: Toronto Transit Commission Program Design & Initial Findings
In late 2015, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) engaged in a unique effort to optimize its wheel/rail interface with Advanced Rail Management and its strategic partners NRC and ATS. Though TTC’s program is conducted through its Track and Infrastructure Department, it is made possible by obtaining a “buy in” by vehicle, operations, and other key departments realizing that proper optimization and maintenance of the TTC subway and light rail systems is a collaborative effort. ARM designed an ambitious program combining inspection, testing, measurement, wheel/rail profile analysis, modeling, and acoustics in order to attain the goal of not only optimizing the wheel/rail interface for TTC, but to equip them with recommendations for monitoring and maintenance strategies to sustain this optimized system moving into the future. The program having begun last December has already identified some key opportunities for improvement in TTC’s systems, and produced some initial recommendations.