The article describes how derailments in European freight rail — roughly 600 each year — lead to billions in costs due to infrastructure damage, vehicle repairs, and operational disruptions. A major example is the 2023 derailment on the Malmbanan line in northern Sweden, where a fractured wheel caused 15 kilometers of track damage and halted traffic for 65 days.

Railway Metrics and Dynamics  recently demonstrated its derailment‑detection technology at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. During a controlled test, RMD’s PMU sensors detected a derailment within seconds and transmitted an immediate alert. The sensors use accelerometers to measure vibrations and can also monitor wheel flats, track geometry, axle temperatures, ride quality, and driver behavior, while continuously providing GPS data.

The article highlights that early detection could significantly reduce damage and downtime. Had such sensors been installed on the Malmbanan train, the driver could have stopped much earlier, potentially limiting the damage to a fraction of what occurred.

RMD’s PMU units are patented in several countries and are currently being tested by multiple Swedish rail operators. The company is also expanding its portfolio with additional sensor solutions, including load‑weight sensors, temperature sensors, pantograph sensors, brake sensors, and rear‑view camera systems.

Read the full article (in Swedish) HERE

Järnvägar.nu is a Swedish online news outlet dedicated to covering the railway industry. The publication reports on developments in rail infrastructure, rolling stock, technology, operations, policy and industry trends.