MODELING RAIL TRACK DETERIORATION AND MAINTENANCE - CURRENT PRACTICESAND FUTURE-NEEDS

As commercialization and privatization of railway systems reach the po litical agendas in a number of countries, including Australia, the sep aration of infrastructure from operating business dictates that track costs need to be shared on an equitable basis. There is also a world-w ide trend towards increased pressures on rail track infrastructure thr ough increases in axle loads and train speeds. Such productivity and c ustomer service driven pressures inevitably lead to reductions in the life of track components and increases in track maintenance costs. Thi s paper provides a state-of-the-art review of track degradation modell ing, as well as an overview of track maintenance decision support syst ems currently in use in North America and Europe. The essential elemen ts of a maintenance optimization model currently under development are also highlighted.