The Netherlands pursues a 25% rail yard capacity boost with smart cameras

Dutch rail infrastructure manager ProRail believes that intelligent cameras, in combination with wheel passage sensors, can generate up to 25% more capacity at freight yards. It has issued a tender for cameras that can automatically recognise wagon numbers and hazardous materials, among other things. The capacity problem primarily affects marshalling yards that do not (sufficiently) know the actual occupancy and utilisation of the tracks, according to ProRail. Previous pilots have shown that a combination of wireless wheel passage sensors and intelligent cameras can improve this. ProRail now intends to apply this technology on a larger scale in the Netherlands.

The first implementations will take place at three freight yards: Houtrakpolder, Moerdijk, and Maasvlakte West/Westwest. Three, one, and five camera systems will be installed there, respectively. In addition, ProRail is considering an expansion to Barendrecht Vork/Vaanplein and Sloe/Vlissingen. Other passenger and freight yards may also be brought under the same agreement at a later date.

For the supplier, the tender means more than just installing cameras. The contract also includes installation, management, maintenance, troubleshooting, and the analysis and delivery of the collected data. Moreover, the systems must be able to function in an operational railway environment.

In addition, ProRail is explicitly seeking a solution that can be further developed. For instance, the railway infrastructure manager is asking about the possibility of automatically sending camera images to the ProRail cloud environment in the future. Bidders must also indicate how future developments can be incorporated into a roadmap.

This story was originally published by RailFreight.com. Read the full story at RailFreight.com →