Route Assessment is the conditional evaluation of a particular vehicle to a given route by means of clearance determination between the vehicle, under specified operating conditions, and the infrastructure, at all points.
The process of Route Assessment will require analysis of one or more of the following:
- Infrastructure clearances between the vehicle and the infrastructure (including lineside equipment)
- Stepping distances between the vehicle door step and platform edge
- Passing clearances between vehicles (not necessarily of the same type)
In all instances, the distances calculated from the vehicle profile derive from the adjacent infrastructure location, the position of which has been previously measured in relation to the track. The calculations take into account the track alignment parameters, track quality and appropriate vehicle profile, i.e. including dynamic performance, vehicle condition and operating regime (including loads and speeds). This data is all brought together in ClearRouteTM, the Laser Rail designed software package.
Route Assessment is a necessary process in developing the Safety Case for the introduction of new vehicles. In developing the design of a new train, the process of Route Assessment can be expedited and has been used to influence the design parameters ahead of train build, with considerable savings in the final acceptance procedures.
