digital rail transport

Tatravagónka and PJM cooperate on digital train functions

Tatravagónka, the leading freight wagon manufacturer in Europe, is integrating PJM's digital freight train functions and automated applications into its equipment range. Hence, the efficiency-enhancing monitoring and automation features are now available ex works for wagon purchasers.

Due to its extensive wagon portfolio, the Slovakian manufacturer is the largest in Europe. Wagon types for the transport of all types of products are developed and manufactured in several plants in Slovakia, including tank and bulk goods wagons, flat wagons, intermodal wagons and steel coil transport wagons. In order to make the benefits of automation and digitalization available to the sector in an efficient way, Tatravagónka is now offering the functionalities of the overall digital system WaggonTracker. The monitoring features include real-time brake analysis and brake system monitoring, real-time kingpin monitoring, IDDS derailment diagnostics paired with real-time in-train communication (direct communication with the train driver), load weight monitoring and automatic brake testing. The majority of the functions are offered exclusively by PJM, the Automatic Brake Test is the European reference system, with broad support from railway undertakings and wagon keepers. The technical applications create a number of essential benefits: lower costs, higher availability of the goods train, faster train preparation and, above all, greater safety. By ordering ex works, the PJM system is optimally integrated into the freight wagons and delivered to the customer.

‘Tatravagónka and our overall digital system complement each other perfectly: as a leading manufacturer, Tatravagónka is constantly developing innovations and optimizations. Our monitoring system, automatic brake testing and load weight monitoring are unique functions that make rail transport safer and optimize it in terms of efficiency, availability and cost-effectiveness. For wagon keepers and railway undertakings, the step towards digital train functions and the associated benefits is very simple. Tatravagónka hands over the required equipment ex works,’ says Günter Petschnig, CEO of PJ Monitoring GmbH. ‘This partnership ensures that the rail freight transport sector receives an advanced, reliable and future-proof overall solution’, says Günter Petschnig

In addition to Tatravagónka, leading wagon hire companies also offer intelligent train functions from PJM in their equipment portfolio: VTG, TRANSWAGGON and GATX equip wagons with automatic brake testing, load weight monitoring or other monitoring functions according to customer requirements.

Check out further information in the press release

Partnership with GATX Rail Europe

GATX Rail Europe is pleased to announce its new partnership with PJ Monitoring (PJM), a respected player in the rail solutions industry. This collaboration, finalized during a recent workshop in Graz, is a strategic move to diversify and enhance our telematics sensor offerings. Through this partnership, GATX aims to provide our customers with greater capabilities to strengthen their rail operations in three areas.

1. Complementing Existing Telematics Solutions & Sensors

GATX will be introducing a new range of sensors that will enhance its current sensor portfolio. These additions are designed to optimize efficiency and safety. These enhancements will provide a new level of automation in rail logistics.

Johannes Friess, Head of Fleet Management at GATX Rail Europe, said, “We are known for our high-quality, modern railcar fleet and are now expanding our sensor portfolio with easy access to state-of-the-art sensor technology, paving the way for the next level of railway transport automation.”

2. Enhanced Overload Protection

With the new Eanos & Eamnos railcars, GATX offers the option of using the overload protection sensors from PJM. This technology has been tried and tested on various wagon types over the years, demonstrating its effectiveness. The commitment is to increase its implementation and extend its usage to optimize the safety and efficiency of rail freight transport.

3. Innovative Automatic Brake Testing

In collaboration with PJM, GATX is also actively offering railcars with automatic brake test system equipment. This holds immense potential for our customers, giving them the means to significantly streamline their operations by saving time during brake tests. GATX Rail Europe views this initiative as more than just a singular solution; it represents a cross-sectoral development that has the potential to positively influence the entire railway market.

Günter Petschnig, Managing Director at PJM, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with the railcar experts at GATX Rail Europe on digitialization and automation solutions such as the brake testing and the load monitoring, because together we can increase the safety and efficiency of railway transports.”

Video on load monitoring system

Text provided by GATX Europe, photo by Markus Lang

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General / Waggon Tracker - 11/20/2024

The sensation in rail freight automation: BAV’s type approval for automatic brake testing

Now it's official: the automated brake testing system has been granted type approval by the Swiss “Federal Office of Transport” (Schweizer Bundesamt für Verkehr). Hence, the automated brake taste is the first approved system worldwide and the first far-reaching automated application in European rail transport. The system was developed with SBB Cargo and is a functionally safe application that has been trialled in various phases over several years. The project milestones in brief:

2017: First test trains
01/ 2022: Pilot train
03/2022: Positive review by TÜV Süd
11/2023: Operational approval by BAV

The automated application provides many benefits:

- Enormous time saving: for a 500 m long goods train, the time saved is around 75 minutes (35 minutes each for 2 shunters)

- Faster, more reliable and safer: the brake check can be carried out automatically by the train driver, is more reliable and increases safety (thanks to the consistent quality of the brake check and the system's objective evaluation criteria).

- Freight wagon downtimes are significantly reduced, while terminal turnaround times are increased.

- The implementation of an automatic brake test brings a concrete and - this is particularly important - immediate improvement for the railway companies.

- For the shunting staff and those responsible for brake testing, the automatic brake test means an improvement in the workplace situation. The interactive operation of a clearly displayed system replaces the strenuous, physically demanding manual inspection.

- The brake test is an essential part of the "1-person operation" that is gradually being implemented by railway companies such as SBB Cargo, particularly as a measure to manage the shortage of skilled labour resulting from demographic development.

Günter Petschnig, CEO of PJ Monitoring, looks back on several years of development: "It's a long way from the vision to the innovation of a completely new system. A major project of this size can only be successfully realised if the project partners work together step by step over several years. The teams at SBB Cargo and PJM have done a fantastic job. A big thank you to the stamina and commitment of everyone involved!"

Media release

General / Waggon Tracker - 11/30/2023

Nomination for the Austrian Mobility Award: Online voting until 23 July

Mercitalia's "super-intelligent" freight train project has convinced the jury. The most intelligent goods train in Europe is nominated for the Austrian Mobility Award, carried out by the VCO.

"The most intelligent goods train in Europe by Mercitalia" is nominated for the Austrian Mobility Award. Every year, the VCÖ selects the best mobility projects in several categories. A jury of experts has evaluated the top 5, now it's your turn and take part in the online voting: You can vote until 23 July (in German language). The German title of our project is: "Digitaler Bahntransport: Der intelligenteste Güterzug Europas".

https://vcoe.at/voting-digitalisierung-in-der-mobilitaet

Of course, our WaggonTracker is also on board as the basic system for the large number of functionalities.

Intelligenteste-Güterzug-Europas-Mercitalia-med

News / Waggon Tracker - 07/12/2023

Transport Logistic 2023: See you in Munich!

The transport industry is meeting again this year in Munich. What will we have in our trade fair luggage? Lots of first-hand news about:

Digital rail freight transport
Automatic brake testing and load weight monitoring
Engineering and construction of new freight wagons and rail vehicles
Current projects

We are looking forward to your visit!

9-12 May 2023

Hall B6 / Booth 116

View of the Olympic Stadium in Munich, Olympic Tower, BMW Tower

News / Waggon Tracker - 04/11/2023

DB Cargo pilot train with automated brake testing has started parallel operation at MEG

Automated brake testing is also picking up speed in Germany. A pilot train with the automated brake testing system has been put into parallel operation by DB Cargo at Mitteldeutsche Eisenbahn GmbH (MEG). The technology has been developed by PJM and has been regarded as the European reference system since the positive evaluation by TÜV. The automated brake test meets all technical and formal criteria as well as safety-relevant specifications. The next step of the approved system is the roll-out. The brake test system is also designed for further automation steps. Thanks to the energy-autonomous and efficient power supply and local radio system, the system is now available and can be used flexibly for retrofit and new vehicles. The modular design ensures compatibility with future DAC. Depending on the operating grade, the brake test will be carried out automatically 4 - 6 times a day or around 1,800 times a year.

The automated brake test is an important component in making rail freight transport more efficient, faster and more attractive. The automated system creates efficiency: the time saved for a 400-meter freight train is around 2 x 35 minutes and the process can be carried out by the locomotive driver or wagon master alone. This is a major advantage from the perspective of the future labour market. The shortage of skilled workers and shunting personnel will increase in the coming years due to demographic developments. "It's high time to replace outdated work and tedious manual tasks with automated processes. Automation brings the urgently needed efficiency boost as well as increasing the profitability of rail transport. And it creates attractive job profiles," says Günter Petschnig, CEO of PJM.

Get more details: https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/07-2022-PI-Automated-Brake-Test-DB-Cargo-EN-Web.pdf

News / Waggon Tracker - 07/14/2022

Cooperation of Voith and PJM in the spotlight of ACStyria's magazine

The magazine of the mobility cluster ACStyria reports on our cooperation with Voith. The companies focus on developing a system that combines coupler-assisted automatic train inauguration and the safe remote-controlled decoupling of freight cars with an automatic coupler. Get the full story (in German language):

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/02/ACStyria_Koop_PJM_Voith0122.pdf

General / Presseberichte / Waggon Tracker - 02/07/2022

Technical article in "Eisenbahntechnische Rundschau" on the automatic brake testing system

The "Eisenbahntechnische Rundschau" reports on the completed product development of the automated brake testing system in a detailed technical article. Read more about the technology and the timeline of the pioneering system (in German language):

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/ETR_ABP1221web-1.pdf

General / Presseberichte / Waggon Tracker - 12/15/2021

Rail Live in Madrid: Solutions for digital rail freight

We are live at Rail Live 2021 in Madrid! On the booth of our industry partner Pilz GmbH, automation will be in the limelight. We present our digital overall system WaggonTracker which combines monitoring and automated brake test or automated load monitoring. There will be a presentation on the digital technology on the automated brake test (1st of December, stage 4). The two experts Gerhard Moser, Senior Manager Systems Integrations of Pilz GmbH and Christoph Lorenzutti, COO of PJ Monitoring, will talk about the solution for digital rail freight.

Get your free ticket: https://www.terrapinn.com/conference/rail-live/index.stm

We are looking forward to your visit at booth 82!

News / Waggon Tracker - 11/22/2021

Mobility 2030: A forecast made by the business magazine Spirit

The Styrian business magazine Spirit provides a comprehensive forecast on mobility 2030. How will Styrian companies and research institutions cope with transformation? Find the answers in the article here (in German language).

Digitaler_Schienenggueterverkehr_SBBC_PJM1

Download PDF

Presseberichte - 11/19/2020