The battle against climate change and the pursuit of zero-emission technologies have sparked a global interest in shifting transportation from air and road to rail networks. Recognizing this trend, researchers from SINTEF and NTNU have embarked on a groundbreaking project to explore the interaction between lubricants, train wheels, and rails in Norway. Surprisingly, this field of research has been largely neglected in the country, despite its significant implications for energy consumption, safety, maintenance costs, passenger comfort, noise levels, vibrations, and particle pollution within the rail network. By developing new environmentally-friendly lubricants and systems for their application, this research project, named WINTER, funded by the Research Council of Norway, aims to revolutionize the rail sector and potentially save hundreds of millions of kroner in maintenance costs over the next decade.
For years, the lubricants used in the Norwegian rail sector have remained unchanged, despite advancements in lubricant technology that have rendered them more environmentally friendly. Moreover, lubricants are applied uniformly across all regions of the country, regardless of the varying wear and tear experienced by different rail lines. This inconsistency in lubricant application has led to a significant disparity in the lifetimes of wheels and rails, with some regions suffering up to 60% shorter lifespans. It is against this backdrop that the WINTER project seeks to introduce the following three improvements to the rail sector:
1. More Environmentally-Friendly Lubricants: The use of lubricants in the rail sector ultimately leads to their release into the external environment. WINTER aims to develop lubricants that are more environmentally friendly, thus reducing the ecological impact of rail operations.
2. Precisely Adapted Lubricant Application Systems: Lubricant application systems will be specifically tailored to the lubricant being used and the region in which they will be deployed. This tailored approach will improve efficiency and maximize lubricant effectiveness.
3. Separate Application Systems for Different Rail Networks: WINTER recognizes the need for separate and customized application systems for traditional rail networks and lighter rail-based systems such as metros, urban light railways, and trams. This distinction ensures that each system receives optimal lubrication, enhancing their performance and longevity.
To assess the efficacy of the innovations developed through the WINTER project, tests were conducted on the Flåm line, which is one of the most challenging stretches on the Norwegian rail network. The results of these tests indicate that the improvements introduced by WINTER could result in annual savings of maintenance costs exceeding five million kroner on this line alone. Extrapolating this figure to the entire rail network, the anticipated savings amount to several hundred million kroner per decade. Despite being only 20 kilometers long, the Flåm line experiences significant wear and tear due to the elevation difference between its terminals. These findings highlight the potential for substantial cost reduction across the entire Norwegian rail network.
Although the WINTER project is rooted in the specific needs of the Norwegian rail network, its findings hold global significance. Rail operators worldwide face the challenge of wear and tear on wheels and rails, making the research conducted by SINTEF and NTNU applicable beyond Norway’s borders. The collaboration between research institutions and industry partners, including Bane NOR, Flåm Utvikling, Vy, Sporveien, Boreal, Elba, and Fuchs, has enabled a comprehensive exploration of the degradation mechanisms affecting train wheels and rails. Through the utilization of thermal cameras, microphones, and chemical analyses, the project has gained valuable insights into wear and tear mechanisms, noise levels, vibrations, and the impact of lubricant additives on the performance of rail components.
The results of the WINTER project will have far-reaching benefits for various stakeholders. Firstly, society as a whole will benefit from reduced costs associated with maintaining a vital transport infrastructure, allowing resources to be allocated elsewhere. Train passengers, residents, and businesses located near rail lines will experience a significant reduction in noise pollution generated by train wheels and rails, leading to improved quality of life. Finally, the industrial companies involved in the project will be able to offer improved lubricant products to the rail, metro, and tram sectors, boosting the overall efficiency and performance of these systems.
The WINTER project represents a pivotal moment in the effort to enhance the performance and sustainability of the rail sector in Norway. By introducing new lubricants and optimized application systems, the project aims to reduce maintenance costs by hundreds of millions of kroner over the next decade. The research conducted by SINTEF and NTNU has the potential to revolutionize the rail industry not only in Norway but also globally. Through collaboration with key industry partners and a comprehensive understanding of degradation mechanisms, WINTER seeks to unlock a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly future for rail networks.
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