Accurate data allocation with the “rail-reader”

All stakeholders in the railway transportation sector are interested in keeping the costs low, the availability and transport quality at an high level and optimise maintenance and repair. This needs exact knowledge about the rolling stock's technical status. Normally a railway car has to receive an "renewal service" once all 5 years. This period is not reflecting the actual usage of the wagon and therefore its technical status. Valuable information can be gathered from the numerous wayside train sensing systems which are nowadays only designated for checking a passing train for safety operation. If the measurement values (bearing temperatures, weights, wheel condition, and more) can be allocated seriously to a specific wagon and its relevant parts, a upcoming service demand or defect could be detected long before the problem rise to a sever level. For exact allocation, a proper identification technology is needed! The proposed "Rail-Reader" RFID-System can ensure this exact data allocation und all conditions. The paper explains the proposed solution, gives an overview on further added value created and discuss some related issues concerning a cross network and cross operator wide approach helping to lower costs and increase efficiency and benefits in railway transport.