Vaisala Rail Weather System

Ice and Frost on Overhead Line Equipment
Winter weather can cause icing on overhead contact wires. This can result in damage to pantograph mounted conductors and electric arcing.  Short-term prediction & detection of icing on contact wires allows preventative measures to be taken to schedule sacrificial trains (to minimise train delays) and to warn train operators.

Wind Speed
High winds and gusts can cause excessive swaying of the overhead contact wire. Wind instrumentation triggers alarms at critical wind speeds.  These 'localised' wind warnings allow sectional speed restrictions to be imposed only on those line sections affected by high winds, so reducing train delays and preventing unnecessary damage to overhead line equipment.

Rail Temperatures
Rails suffer from the effects of extremes in temperature throughout the year - from ice and snow, through to rail buckling or switch misalignment caused by high, or fluctuating rail temperatures.

Reliable prediction and detection of rail temperature and state helps rail operators plan and schedule preventative maintenance activities.

Precipitation and Visibility
Sensors provide monitoring of visibility and precipitation type (precipitation, rain, snow and mixed) and amount to give rail operators more detailed weather information.