Vossloh & Athena: ARCD Rail Safety for Digital Railway Infrastructure

Introduction

Vossloh has partnered with Athena Industrial Services to integrate Athena’s Advanced Rail Condition Detection (ARCD) technology into Vossloh’s connect digital platform. This collaboration aims to broaden the reach of ARCD, which has over 1,200 units deployed, for identifying broken rails and detecting train presence in areas lacking traditional signaling.

Main Content

Partnership Details

Vossloh and Athena Industrial Services have formed a strategic partnership. Vossloh will integrate Athena’s patented ARCD system into its Vossloh connect digital platform. The ARCD technology is designed for autonomous identification of broken rails and train presence detection in areas without traditional signaling.

ARCD Technology Overview

Athena Industrial Services’ ARCD technology has seen more than 1,200 units deployed. The system has detected over 100 broken rails. ARCD uses a data-driven approach to enhance network safety, particularly in areas with limited signaling infrastructure. According to Eiro Issakidis-Brown, Head of Strategy at Athena Industrial, the ARCD system is especially designed for areas without signals or train control, known as “Dark Territory.”

Vossloh Connect Integration

The integration of ARCD into Vossloh connect aims to offer smarter, safer, and more predictive rail infrastructure solutions. Vossloh connect provides digital tools for asset monitoring, track measurement, and lifecycle management. The platform supports operators in adopting predictive maintenance strategies. This integration strengthens the platform’s safety capabilities, especially on low-density or remote routes.

Strategic Goals

The partnership seeks to extend the global reach of ARCD. Pierre-Henri Bougeant, Head of Digitalization at Vossloh, stated that adding ARCD to the Vossloh connect ecosystem is a natural step. The aim is to provide railway operators with access to the ARCD tool for enhanced rail safety.

Conclusion

Vossloh and Athena Industrial Services have partnered to integrate the ARCD system into the Vossloh connect platform, expanding the availability of predictive maintenance tools. The ARCD system, with over 1,200 units deployed, is designed for identifying broken rails and train presence detection, particularly in areas lacking traditional signaling. This collaboration aims to enhance rail safety and offer smarter rail infrastructure solutions.

Company Summary

Vossloh: A company involved in the rail technology market.

Athena Industrial Services: A Canadian company specializing in rail condition detection technology.

Technology

Advanced Rail Condition Detection (ARCD): A technology developed by Athena Industrial Services designed to autonomously identify broken rails and detect train presence in areas without traditional signalling. ARCD has over 1,200 units deployed and has detected over 100 broken rails.