Keep Rails Free of Ice and Snow and Operators Safe Inside

Remote Monitoring and Real-Time Alerts Make Winter Maintenance Hassle-Free

At the onset of the fall season, rail companies undergo the time-intensive task of prepping railways to ensure rails, components, and heaters are in good operating order. Once this phase is completed, the focus shifts to ongoing maintenance to keep rails free of ice and snow during the long winter months ahead.

Traditionally, railways have relied upon physical inspection of heaters as part of their winter maintenance approach. This requires an operator to go out—often in extreme weather conditions—to visually inspect a heater that may be malfunctioning. This consumes a chunk of time and is unpleasant at best, and potentially a safety risk, for the operator.

NIBE North America provides an alternative that enables crews to monitor switch heaters from the comfort of their office or other remote location. Our automated BLUE POINT Switch Heating Control system features remote 24/7 call center monitoring and diagnostics with real-time alerts to help to avoid costly shutdowns and delays, and enable worry-free operations.

Challenges of Keeping Railways Free of Ice and Snow in Winter

Railways have long played a vital role in society by providing critical infrastructure that connects cities, towns, and regions. They serve as a lifeline for economies and communities by moving both people and goods efficiently over long distances. Investment in railway infrastructure and technological advancements—which enhance reliability, efficiency, and sustainability—have made rail transport indispensable in an interconnected world.

Keeping trains moving safely and efficiently is the number one goal for rail companies. However, during the winter, ice and snow can pose significant challenges for rail operators. Keeping railways clear is critical to avoid delays, accidents, and breakdowns—all of which negatively impact performance metrics.

A few of the key challenges faced in ensuring smooth railway operations during winter months include:

• Snow Accumulation on Tracks. One of the most obvious challenges is snow piling up on the tracks. A layer of snow can make it difficult for trains to maintain proper traction, leading to slower speeds, delays, or even complete stoppages. In regions that experience heavy snowfall, accumulation can happen quickly and in massive quantities.

• Ice on Tracks. Ice buildup on the tracks is particularly dangerous. It can prevent effective braking, cause wheels to slip, and reduce the train’s ability to gain traction. Frozen switches, which allow trains to move from one track to another, are another significant issue. Without functioning switches, entire sections of the railway network can become inoperable, causing trains to be rerouted or delayed.
• Extreme Cold Affecting Metal Fatigue. Metal components of rail tracks and train systems, including steel rails, can become more brittle in freezing weather. This increases the risk of cracks or breaks in the rails, which can lead to derailments or costly repairs.

• Reduced Lubrication Efficiency: Lubricants can become less effective in freezing conditions, leading to increased friction and wear on the switch components.

• Signal Failures: Ice and snow can interfere with the electrical components of the switch, leading to signal failures that can compromise safety.

• Labor, Time, and Resources: Physical inspection of heaters in the winter consumes a tremendous amount of time—and poses additional safety risks—that could be better spent focused on operations.

Remote Rail Switch Heater Monitoring for Easy, Cost-Effective Winter Maintenance

NIBE North America’s patented, dual element track switch electric heating and remote monitoring system, BLUE POINT, simplifies winter maintenance. BLUE POINT is a completely autonomous system that utilizes weather sensors, rail sensors, and predictive services to control the rail heat autonomously.

Throughout the winter, BLUE POINT’s SCADA system continually monitors track switch heaters, and our 24/7 call center notifies crews immediately if an issue is detected. Remote monitoring frees operators from the onerous task of having to physically inspect switch heaters, enabling them to focus on what they do best—move trains. When an issue does arise, the system provides a level of redundancy so that each heater is electrically isolated, so if one heater fails, it will not propagate to another heater.

In addition to the ease of use and peace of mind provided by the system, significant energy savings and enhanced performance metrics have been achieved by several U.S. rail authorities where BLUE POINT has been installed. Benefits of our dual-element electric track switch heating system include:

• Energy cost savings of 90% and higher.
• Robust, long-lasting heater with full 10-year warranty.
• The hottest electric rail heating system you can buy—500-600 watts—tackles extreme conditions.
• Pulse width modulated (PWM) dual-element heating enables an operator to dial in the exact wattage required to keep rails free of ice and snow.

Reduce Energy and Maintenance Costs with Custom-Designed Automated Electric Track Switch Heating System

Maintenance of rail track switches is vital to maintaining safe and efficient railway operations during the winter months. By taking proactive measures, such as installing a fully automated, electric switch point heating system with remote monitoring, railway operators can significantly reduce the labor, energy usage, and operating costs of winter maintenance.

NIBE helps solve unique rail heating challenges with custom-designed, and USA-manufactured, rail switch heating and monitoring solutions. We’re here to help you create the best rail heating and monitoring solution for your needs to boost your performance indicators, reduce energy costs, and simplify the winterization and maintenance process for hassle-free operation.

How can we help you with your next rail switch heating project? Contact an engineer today to set up a consultation. We look forward to helping you soon.