What is possible when rail head lubrication is intelligently controlled?
2026-02-11
The results from our research are clear. The following effects were measured on a PoC track in urban operation:
−98.5% curve squealing
up to −60% lubrication agent consumption
Simulations indicate a potential reduction of wheel tread wear of up to 12 %
A key learning for operators: it is not high-end hardware that is crucial, but a robust database, a sensibly defined squeal index, developed together with Substring, and an understanding of wheel-rail contact throughout the entire operation.
Intelligent lubrication reduces conflicting objectives: less noise with lower resource consumption and less wear with more stable life cycle costs. This makes intelligent rail head lubrication a building block for sustainable mobility and consistent lifecycle optimisation in urban rail transport.
These findings form the basis for exchange, further exploration and the next step towards practical application.
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