Alstom launched a new predictive maintenance tool, HealthHub, which is able to monitor the health of trains, infrastructure and signalling assets, as well as new scalable ERTMS systems at InnoTrans, the world’s biggest railway tradeshow taking place in Berlin Sept. 23-26.

HealthHub is an innovative approach designed to shift from traditional mileage-based maintenance to condition-based predictive maintenance, thus reducing the lifecycle cost for the operator, according to the company.

HealthHub is supported by various high technology data capture solutions such as TrainScanner, an automated diagnostics portal capable of measuring the condition of three key consumables of a train as it moves through the portal: wheels, brake pads and pantograph carbon strips.

It allows up to 15% of material costs to be saved by replacing them only on an as-needed basis. For infrastructures, TrackTracer will allow similar monitoring of the track and catenaries.

Additionally, Alstom launched Atlas 400 and 500 scalable ERTMS systems for traffic density from 6 to 600 trains per day, whether on passenger, freight or mixed traffic lines. They are applicable for a resignalling upgrade or a new-build project. The scalability or configurable deployment in accordance with customer needs is achieved with modular software applicable to the same onboard and trackside computer equipment.

Atlas 400 has been specifically designed for low density lines. With Atlas 400, train detection is performed by the trains themselves, which reduces the need for trackside equipment, providing investment savings from 12% to 16% and up to 30% on maintenance cost. It is designed to be operated with satellite positioning and various radio bearers.

Atlas 500 has been designed for high density lines and increases headway performance by up to 25% for customers. Trains can follow each other very closely thanks to the accurate braking curve. It also reduces the time for station stops. Atlas 500 combines ATO [1]  and moving block functionalities without adding extra equipment – and so does not increase the cost of ownership. Furthermore, Atlas 500 uses GPRS which allows communication with more trains in dense traffic areas.