Short-termism threatens rail safety

The rockfall on the Ofotbanen, the accident in Lisbon and the impact of torrential rain on the railway in Örnsköldsvik have once again put the focus on the safety of the railway system. Veronica Jägare, Director of the Luleå Railway Research Center at Luleå University of Technology, warns that climate change, neglected maintenance and short-term procurement make the system vulnerable.

"Wheel-rail contact is a critical factor for safe and efficient rail traffic. Derailments and wheel damage are occurring, and with climate change, new risks are emerging - such as torrential rain, slope erosion and landslides. For a safe railway, knowledge in the field of climate change adaptation needs to be strengthened along with new areas such as the increasing threat of cyber attacks," says Veronica Jägare.

Research that makes a difference

At Luleå University of Technology, extensive research is conducted in operation and maintenance technology in close collaboration with the railway industry. The work includes new methods for measurement, monitoring, climate adaptation and digitization. The aim is to detect faults in time, plan maintenance more efficiently and extend the life of facilities.

"We need to find ways to keep infrastructure safe. Switches are a good example: with better measurements and monitoring, they can be used for longer and faults can be detected for action before something happens," says Veronica Jägare.

Biggest in Europe

She emphasises that the issue is not only about technology, but also about understanding. Veronica Jägare believes that decision-makers often lack insight into what maintenance means, even though it is basically simple: the right action at the right time.

The research group in maintenance engineering at Luleå University of Technology is today the largest in Europe and participates in a number of international projects.
"Among other things, we are working on research on the application of AI in maintenance and have begun to investigate how quantum computers and quantum sensors can benefit the railway."

The system must be sustainable

According to Veronica Jägare, the challenge lies not only in developing the technology, but in changing the management. She points to maintenance debt, short-term contracts and procurement at the lowest price as obstacles to a robust rail system.

"Authorities often procure at the lowest cost, but maintenance requires continuity and long-term strategies. Facilities are supposed to last 60 years, but contracts are often only for five. This is too short-term," she says.

Veronica Jägare also points out that decision-making processes are slow. Innovations can take more than a decade to get into the system because they get stuck in planning cycles.

"The hard part is not improving technology but changing the system. We need a cultural change in government and politics, thinking about what values to deliver to society instead of getting stuck in processes."