Cant in railway terms is the raising of the outer rail on curved
track to allow faster speeds for a train travelling around the
curve than if the two rails were level. This project aims to review
cant deficiency - where a vehicle operating through a curve has
insufficient cant to achieve equilibrium – and its impact on
the overall efficiency of the railroad.
The project aims to:
- identify issues relating to the effects of cant and cant deficiency
on vehicle performance
- develop a test program for the impact of vehicle type, vehicle
maintenance and track condition on cant limits and allowable travel
speeds
- recommend cant deficiency limits for locomotive and freight
vehicles and
- recommend testing procedures to qualify rollingstock to operate
outside standard conditions.
Freight trains operating on curved tracks in Australia typically
have excess cant, offering the potential to operate trains in a
more balanced way through these curves by travelling faster. The
benefits of successful completion of this project include:
- Ability to operate freight trains faster, resulting in faster
transit times and higher productivity
- Reduced braking and accelerating (overall reduced energy
consumption) and
- Reduced greenhouse emissions.
Rail CRC participants are actively involved in this project,
particularly ARTC and Pacific National, with ARTC intending to
review the outcomes and act accordingly in relation to affected
standards. Reviewed by STEM Partnerships in 2006, the project was
estimated to have the potential to provide a risk-free-value to the
rail industry of $12 million over the next 15 years, and an
estimated value of $4.6 million taking into account the risks
involved in delivering the research.
Results to date:
- Literature review on current policies and practices for cant
deficiency completed
- Selected industry field testing site and completed personnel site
inductions
- Completed in-field testing and analysis of data taken at a number
of locations to measure vehicle-track interaction using bogie
instruments and vehicle-track interaction using track instruments
with various cant deficiency (speed) levels
Future outcomes:
- Report on the effect of cant deficiency on vehicle response and
recommend allowable curve superelevation and cant deficiency levels
Project Leader: Mr Graham Tew (Monash)
Project Manager: Mr Fred Mau (Booz Allen Hamilton)
