Knorr-Bremse Derailment Detector EDT101, fitted to Davis Wagon Service’s UK freight wagons, has been awarded runner up in the Sustainability and Safety category at the Rail Freight Group Awards.
Knorr-Bremse has developed an award-winning derailment detector that can recognise when a vehicle has derailed and immediately initiate an emergency brake application. The first deployment of the detector in the UK is now underway.
Responding to the need to improve the risks associated with freight vehicle derailments, Knorr-Bremse has developed a derailment detector which can identify the signs of a derailment and immediately initiate a rapid, complete emergency brake application, bringing a train quickly and safely to a halt and minimising ensuing damage.
The EDT101 meets International Union of Railways (UIC) standards and has been subjected to rigorous testing; it has been proven reliable. The unit is expected to improve train safety significantly, with reaction times measured in milliseconds.
How it works
The EDT101 is a passive, pneumatic/mechanical unit and, as such, does not need an external power supply. Installation is a simple process – the main brake pipe is connected to the stopcock which is connected to the EDT unit. By opening the stopcock, we can allow the air from the stopcock to enter to the EDT. In the event of a derailment, the valve reacts to the abnormal vertical movements and opens the brake pipe, which initiates emergency braking. At the same time, a red indicator device pops out of the EDT housing, ensuring that once the train has stopped, the driver or a crew member can quickly identify the derailed wagon or axle even if the vehicle has re-railed itself.
Following activation, the system will also reset itself automatically. If it is safe, the vehicle can then be moved to clear the line, to a better place for recovery, or even to continue running if this is deemed acceptable. However, the indicator will continue to show until the EDT101’s indicator is reset by hand, enabling further checks to be carried out even if the vehicle has remained in service to the end of its journey.
Easily fitted to new freight wagons and retrofitted to those already in service
The EDT101 can be fitted easily to any new freight wagon and retrofitted to those already in service; because the units operate as a closed system, wagons carrying the detectors can work with those yet to be fitted, meaning that an operator is not constrained in the marshalling and operation of vehicles during a roll-out programme.
From the outset Knorr-Bremse has worked to ensure the installation and operation of the units is quick and straightforward, encouraging take-up across the freight sector. Before fitment on a vehicle, a vibration and resonance test determines the correct installation position and sensitivity of the EDT for the type of wagon involved. These bespoke parameters are then used to set up the EDT101 units to ensure they respond only when a derailment may have occurred and not when the train passes over a section of infrastructure that merely causes some rough riding.
The first deployment in the UK
The first deployment in the UK began in May 2023 following a decision by UK power generator Drax Power Ltd. to fit the EDT101 units to its existing fleet of 225 high-capacity biomass wagons manufactured by British firm WH Davis and on the additional 30 vehicles it has now ordered to boost capacity; this is the first time a derailment detector product has been fitted onto freight wagons in the UK.
Each Drax train can carry sufficient biomass for Drax to generate enough electricity to supply around 800 UK homes for a year, so the loss of a train or even a single wagon due to an incident would have a significant impact.
Wagon maintainer Davis Wagon Services has fitted the EDT101 detectors to the fleet. DWS Managing Director John Hall comments, “It is a fantastic achievement for Davis Wagon Services to be the first company in the UK to have installed these derailment detectors. As soon as we presented this project to Drax, they recognised the benefits and could see that this would add safety to the network. Knorr-Bremse has fully supported us; they have been there for testing, development, and installation.”
For Knorr-Bremse, this first deployment of the derailment detector is also an important step; Freight Business Manager Joshua Jordan-Boddey notes, “We at Knorr-Bremse are happy to be working in collaboration with Davis Wagon Services alongside Drax to bring innovation to the UK freight market. The derailment detector is a perfect example of what we bring to the sector to improve safety and performance in the industry.”
The wider freight community has also welcomed the project; Maggie Simpson OBE, Director General of the Rail Freight Group, comments, “The operation of freight services safely and reliably is vital for the industry and their role in the UK supply chain. The availability of a simple, fit, easy-to-fit and use device is a significant step. I am delighted to see the collaboration between the three businesses, enabling the first deployment of the derailment detectors. Whilst we all hope they will never be needed, it is reassuring to know that the drive for ever higher levels of safety is continuing to make a real difference for our network.”
