Overview of activities related to the provision of logistical support during the implementation of type tests of railway vehicles

Abstract

The logistical support necessary for the organization of type tests of rail vehicles is a complex task. Resources that must be provided are expensive and related to the complex organization of work in the field. On the other hand, the relevant European standards are technically more and more demanding, so the logistical support is also more extensive. In this paper, the focus is on the presentation of activities related to type tests of freight wagons. The testing of the brake system is shown in detail. For this test it is necessary to perform measurements on an open track, at different running speeds and different levels of vehicle loading. Given that the test is performed by decoupling the wagon, it is necessary to apply a number of technical measures that will ensure that the test is performed safely and with minimal risks. By applying the network planning method, it was shown that although there is a relatively small number of activities, each of them can be critical, i.e. in case of delay may cause additional costs, that can be identified during planning, but which are not recognized and most often not acknowledged by the purchaser of the testing.