Rail passenger and freight transporters can increase locomotive and wagon uptime by easily identifying train composition with RFID labels and scanners.

Challenge: Increase train identification speed

Checking train composition in the field is in many cases still a manual process that involves finding and writing down wagon or part numbers that can be difficult to read. Increasing train identification speed is important to enable faster reactive and proactive maintenance, which in turn helps to avoid delays for both passengers and freight.

Solution: RFID labels, handheld and fixed scanners

Wagons, locomotives and their parts can be identified with reliable, and fully customisable RFID labels. These can be provided in polyester that will stay attached and remain legible in rougher environments and outdoor contexts. Other materials are available to offer optimal reliability in specific use contexts.

Fully customisable RFID labels

Brady can provide its customisable L-2588-26C UHF RFID labels with a read range up to 11 metres. Also available are L-2588-25B UHF on-metal RFID labels that provide a 3 metre read range when applied on metal surfaces. In addition, Brady can supply HF, or NFC, on-metal RFID labels that can only be read up close.

Faster maintenance with RFID labels & handheld scanners

RFID labels can provide any wagon or part with a unique, standardised identifier that can be read reliably from a distance with a UHF RFID scanner, or up close with a recent, NFC-enabled smartphone. The identifier can be linked to a company ERPsystem via an Asset Management software. This will enable maintenance teams to access quickly any item’s maintenance history, mileage, technical documentation, re-order code and any information they need to deliver their best work fast.

Proximity alerts can be provided via the software to locate parts even faster.

Errors related to manually copying serial numbers or other identifiers can be avoided. Relevant documentation can become available immediately on handheld scanners, and interventions can be added easily to the asset’s maintenance history. Similar assets with the same make and model, or produced in the same lot, can be highlighted quickly for predictive maintenance. Steps on how to solve the problem can become accessible for other maintenance teams so they can intervene even faster.

Print and program RFID labels at your premises

RFID labels can still include a human readable, and a datamatrix code. Printers are available that can print-and-program UHF RFID labels or HF NFC RFID labels in one go at any location.

Results: Faster train identification with RFID labels and scanners

To identify train composition and the wagon or locomotive to service, maintenance teams no longer need to visually check a wagon or part identification number. These can be scanned from a distance, and all relevant maintenance information can become accessible immediately. Intervention data can be added to the wagon’s maintenance history, and similar wagons can be flagged for efficient predictive maintenance.