Benchmarking study for smarter rail maintenance across Europe

To improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in railway infrastructure, European Infrastructure Managers (IMs) are exploring the use of condition-based maintenance (CBM). CBM strategies make use of continuously collected condition data to assess asset performance, identify issues early, and avoid failures. Many IMs are increasingly turning to this approach to optimise asset lifetimes and reduce maintenance costs.

In this context, Ramboll conducted a benchmarking study of 13 European IMs to examine the current state of CBM implementation. The study focused on components such as switches, tracks, and catenary systems and looked at various technologies, including vibration sensors, current and voltage measurements, and image-based inspections.

The analysis identified a range of approaches. Some IMs already use CBM extensively for specific components, while others are still in the pilot or evaluation phase. Implementation maturity varies significantly across organisations.

The study also investigated cost-benefit expectations and the challenges in scaling up CBM strategies. These include limited standardisation, difficulties in data integration, and a lack of transparency around return on investment.

Ramboll summarised the findings in a maturity matrix to visualise the development levels across the participating IMs. Based on the results, tailored recommendations were developed for each organisation. These covered actions such as refining implementation plans, setting realistic expectations, improving data use, and developing in-house capabilities.

The benchmarking project provides valuable insights for the European rail sector on how to move from reactive to condition-based maintenance and highlights the enabling role of data and digital tools in asset management.