Contract Testing
Holland's contract testing vehicles (TrackSTAR®) will simultaneously collect track geometry, track strength, and rail profile measurement data to provide a comprehensive assessment of your track condition, providing insights on continued safe operation and helping to direct you to the most effective use of your maintenance and capital funds. Our TrackSTAR® fleet allow the flexibility to provide testing services to any Class 1, regional, short line, transit, passenger and industrial railroad throughout North America. An experienced certified two-person team is fully trained in on-track safety, operates each testing vehicle. With testing speeds of up to 35 mph, our vehicles can test over 100 miles of track in one day. We provide everything from one-day testing services to multi-year term programs and can customize programs and solutions to fit your needs.
TRACK GEOMETRY
TrackSTAR® vehicles measure all industry-standard track geometry parameters including track gauge, horizontal and vertical alignment, left and right surface, cross-level, twist and warp. The information gained from rail geometry testing helps to maintain track to standards, locate exceptions before they become serious problems, organize repairs on a priority basis and prevent derailments.
RAIL PROFILE
Our testing vehicles use lasers and cameras to measure more than 300 points on the rail surface for a full rail profile assessment and rail cant. In combination with our post-processing software Rangecam, we can provide rail wear analysis and rail replacement forecasting. Rail profile information helps classifying rail by size and wear, planning long-range rail replacement, evaluation of grinding effectiveness, locating areas of accelerated wear for maximizing rail life.
TRACK GAUGE STRENGTH
We use a patented split load axle system that applies constant and consistent vertical and lateral loading to the rail during testing.
Our testing vehicles measure track gauge twice – first, unloaded gauge is measured at the front of the test vehicle statically, then loaded gauge is measured at the load axle near the center of the vehicle dynamically. Holland's patented Axle Performance Evaluation System assures consistent gauge strength testing to industry and FRA standards.
Track gauge strength testing can improve track safety and provides important information to help in crosstie replacement planning.Benefits include locating weak gauge that affect safe movement of trains, identifying clusters of weak ties or broken fasteners, and can be an effective long-term planning tool for track maintenance.