This paper investigates the wear rate and pattern for wheels turned with thin flanges using Economic Tyre turning (ETT). ETT refers to the process of turning wheels to a profile that has the same tread shape but a thinner flange than the design case profile, allowing less material to be removed from the wheel diameter during re-profiling. Modern wheel lathes are typically capable of turning such profiles but GB railway group standards do not currently permit their use.The paper demonstrates how the Wheel Profile Damage Model (WPDM) [1] can be used, with a good degree of accuracy, to predict both the magnitude of wheel wear and the worn profile shape of the design and ETT re-profiled wheels for service mileages exceeding 100,000 miles. The WPDM simulations were run for two typical Electric Multiple Units (EMU) (one suburban and one inter-city train fleet) and a 2-axle freight wagon.Additionally, it discusses the calibration methodology used to adjust the wear coefficients contained within the Archard wear model to improve the accuracy of the WPDM simulation results for specific routes and vehicle types. Furthermore, this paper presents the findings of a trial of ETT on a fleet of inter-city trains.The analysis is extended to predict the effect of using ETT on rail RCF for typical routes and operating conditions using a series of vehicle dynamic simulations. The analysis considers new 56E1 and 60E2 rails together with a selection of worn wheel.The research provides valuable evidence to support a future change to the standards which will allow train operators/maintainers to implement ETT policies.

This paper discusses the use of Linear Mixed Models (LMM) and Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) to predict the wear and damage trajectories of railway wheelsets for a fleet of modern multiple unit trains. The wear trajectory is described by the evolution of the wheel flange thickness, the flange height and the tread diameter; whereas the damage trajectory is assessed through the probabilities of various types of wheel tread damage such as rolling contact fatigue, wheel flats and cavities occurring. Different model specifications are compared based on an information criterion.

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This paper describes the current version of the Low Adhesion Braking Dynamic Optimisation for Rolling Stock (LABRADOR) simulation tool that can predict the train brake system performance and support decision-making in the design and optimisation of the braking system including wheel slide protection, sanders and the blending and control of friction and dynamic brakes in low adhesion conditions. The model has been developed in MATLAB/Simulink and is intended to mimic the braking performance of both older and newer generations of multiple unit passenger trains. LABRADOR models have been initially validated by comparing simulation results for a single car train (Class 153) and two-car train (Class 158) in dry conditions with experimental tests, for tare and crush laden vehicles. This project is supported by RSSB and a technical steering group composed of railway braking experts, suppliers and train operators and manufacturers.