Maintenance

The train railways are the backbone of this country and are relied on by millions all over each and every day. At a time when the world is becoming greener, it is no surprise that sustainable infrastructure is on the rise and engineers are coming up with ways to build and maintain railway systems that are good for the environment. Of course, safety must be at the heart of this and there are some innovative methods that are being used to support businesses looking to balance sustainability with safety and durability.

First, it is worth looking at the green tools that contractors are using to create safer railways for the country. One of the most notable developments in recent times has been the rise of automation with many railways now using automated systems that can monitor traffic and reduce the carbon footprint of train equipment. In addition to this, renewable energy is becoming more prevalent and a great way to power our trains as it can reduce environmental impact and make the air safer for all.

So, what are some safe practices for safety in railway maintenance?

Regular Inspections & Maintenance

First, one of the most important practices is regular inspections. It is important that all elements are regularly inspected, including the tracks, signals, bridges and trains themselves. A maintenance schedule should also be developed to ensure that all equipment gets properly looked after to promote safety and prevent issues from arising.

Risk Assessments

It is important to note that there are a number of hazards and dangers involved in the maintenance of the railways. This is why risk assessments are such an important process to go through as they will help to determine the dangers involved. Once the dangers have been established, you can find ways to manage or remove these risks.

PPE

It is also vital that railway maintenance staff have access to high-quality PPE. PPE like hard hats and safety goggles can provide vital protection when carrying out dangerous work and hopefully prevent any injuries from being sustained.

Technology

An innovative solution to railway maintenance has been the adoption of technology, which can make maintaining the railways a lot safer. This is with the use of drones to inspect dangerous/hard-to-reach areas, robots automating dangerous tasks and predict maintenance systems to identify issues before they arise as a few examples.

On-Board Systems

There are also onboard systems that are able to perform performance checks and report any problems to the maintenance centre. This can improve the efficiency of maintenance and ensures that issues are picked up and dealt with as swiftly as possible.

The railways play a major part of UK life and have millions of users each day. Therefore, maintenance is hugely important and it is vital that safe practices are used to keep the trains running safely and smoothly each day.