 Over the past six months, Strainstall have seen a significant increase in orders for their rail points pins. These pins replace a pivot in the switch drive mechanism and are used to measure the operating forces of the point in order to establish its operational health and performance.
Rail points failure is a major cause of train delays in the UK, and it is an ongoing issue for rail operators. The rail points pin has been specifically designed to tackle this problem by identifying points that are not functioning correctly before they actually fail, allowing maintenance staff to undertake repairs. Points failure is usually caused by the build up of dirt and debris in the point mechanism, and is very costly for the rail operator, as the effected line has to be closed and trains diverted while repairs are carried out or a replacement unit is installed.
These points pins were first designed by Strainstall around 8 years ago in response to an enquiry from Amey Rail, who were experiencing several points breakdowns every month. As rail operators come under increasing pressure to meet timetable schedules and to improve operational efficiency, they are realising the benefits of being able to predict when a point is likely to fail. When routine junction replacements are being made, Strainstall are increasingly being asked to supply the pins for installation into the switches that see the heaviest usage.
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