RSSB 2230 (T1109)- Freight Suspension Analysis

The suite of Railway Group Standards concerning gauging were updated and published in December 2015.

Among the major additions, GE/RT8073 ‘Requirements for the Application of Standard Vehicle Gauges’ Issue 3 included the publication of a new Lower Sector gauge (Lower Sector Vehicle Gauge (LSVG)) and the introduction of a ‘Benchmark’ suspensions list.

The purpose of the Benchmark suspensions list is to identify suspensions that have known movements and detail these in their respective Standard Vehicle Gauge Data sheet (SVGD).

By detailing the movement characteristics, Infrastructure Managers are able to better understand the space required by vehicles at specific locations, rather than applying a larger than required clearance.

Railway Undertakings/suppliers will be able to design their bogies with greater understanding of what is required to be compliant with a specific gauge.

The project will develop a process for adding new suspension designs to the Benchmark suspension list.

Once ‘New’ bogie/suspension type movements have been demonstrated to be within the movement envelope of the current Benchmark suspensions then it can be added to the list.

Vehicles that are compatible with the LSVG have a significant advantage over those that are currently declared compatible with the other Lower Sector gauge known as W6a lower gauge.

There are advantages in shifting to using the LSVG for both Railway Undertakings and the Infrastructure Manager, the former being greater route availability and the latter being reduced inspection and maintenance costs.

There are also overall system benefits in terms of reduced costs of gauge enhancements.

The ‘Established’ suspensions are all currently deemed to conform with W6a lower gauge, therefore the research will determine if all or any of them conform with LSVG.

In addition, given that wagons will need to be hauled by a locomotive, the research will also seek to confirm the locomotives that conform to LSVG.