China Procures Multiple SafeTrak Systems from Loveland’s DataTraks

Posted on | July 23, 2012 | No Comments

China Purchases Multiple SafeTrak Systems from Loveland’s DataTraks

Significant expansion for local rail-safety company

Loveland, Colorado– After years of testing in China, a recent purchase of 82 SafeTrak systems from DataTraks will be sent to China to help prevent temperature-related track buckling on high speed and non-high speed rail lines. This global partnership will help to make China’s rail lines safer and more efficient for passenger and freight trains. This large purchase by the Chinese government means a significant expansion for the DataTraks team.

The new SafeTrak systems will be installed on lines all across China’s rail systems; with 40 units purchased for passenger and general freight rail systems located in Taiyuan (Shanxi province). 34 of the SafeTrak systems are designated specifically for the Nantongpu line in Shanxi. 12 systems were purchased for the Fengshuang line in Beijing and 14 are to be distributed along high-speed lines in Shandong province. The remainder of the SafeTrak systems are designated for lines in Shanghai.

When the sun heats continuously welded rail lines, the metal rails expand. With long stretches of unbroken rail, there is nowhere for that expansion to go, which can result in a “sun kink,” where the track buckles sideways. Large temperature fluctuations, especially on hot summer days, can be detrimental to rail operations, since trains derail if they are not stopped before encountering buckled track. A derailment not only results in the loss of rail cars and miles of track, it can also injure or kill passengers and crew and damage cargo. Even if it does not cause a derailment, a stretch of rail that buckles can be closed for days, disrupting traffic and costing businesses millions of dollars.

DataTraks is proud to provide China with their innovative derailment prevention system. SafeTrak systems detect changes in neutral temperature on continuously welded rail. The sensors communicate down the track, providing a way to monitor neutral temperature fluctuations and drift. This safety net allows rail crews to efficiently identify and correct potential problem areas before they become a hazard. If crews know that an area is becoming dangerously stressed, they can be dispatched to de-stress the rail, saving time, money and lives.

About Datatraks

DataTraks was founded in 1998 to help railroad operators make critical decisions regarding the development and maintenance of safe, effective rail systems. The company provides customized engineering and software solutions for companies around world, in the railroad, manufacturing, and mining industries. DataTraks clients benefit from an experienced team of electrical, mechanical and software engineers dedicated to helping those they serve operate safer and more efficiently. Areas of focus include Positive Train Control (PTC), wireless sensor systems, custom software, non-destructive evaluation, and preventative maintenance. For more information, visit www.datatraks.com, call (970) 461-1140, or email info@datatraks.com.

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