Autumn 2002 Trials Aims

Trials will be carried out throughout the autumn of 2002. Railtrack have generously allowed LaserThor to fit the Laser Railhead Cleaner to an MPV. The MPV will carry out its normal autumn treatment programme. However, whilst in transit between treatment areas the Laser Railhead Cleaner will be operated by the train operator to remove leaf contamination from sections of rail not normally treated in the programme. Results of the laser treatments will be monitored and evaluated.

The aims of the trials are:

To prove the effective fitment of the Laser Railhead Deliver system onto an MPV
To test the reliability of the laser in an operational environment
To test the reliability of the optics in an operational environment
To test the Railhead Delivery Unit in an operational environment
To test the effectiveness of the system in removing leaf contamination
To test the ease of use of the system by an AMEC operator
To evaluate the training programme given to the AMEC operators
To monitor the robustness of each component of the system and evaluate the maintenance requirement
To prove the signalling system is unaffected by the laser operations
To prove the laser beam is being delivered safely to the track, with no escape of emissions
To test the environmental control design inside the container