Predict & prevent - An holistic approach in Infrastructure Maintenance to ensure substance quality (part 1)

The biggest part of the life cycle costs of rail infrastructure is caused by operation and maintenance. Maintenance is often controlled by monetary objectives, less with quality standards, that assesses the actual output and result of maintenance, the quality of substance. Although maintenance goals are achieved, this says little about the future development of the assets substance. Because infrastructure facilities are durable, a deferred maintenance, with the result of creeping substance deficit, will find a delayed detection, so there is a need for assessment scales, which are appropriate for specific target agreements. To measure the quality of substance the wear stock indicator (KAV9) makes the wear of tracks and turnouts measurable and provides a clear compaction in an expedient degree of aggregation. The application of modern maintenance strategies also requires a network-wide database in order to provide up to date information in the right place at the right time. Only a long-term planning and predictive management can prevent expensive budget surprises permanently. This paper shows approaches for target agreement train operators and infrastructure managers according to the orderer-provider- principle.