USA: The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has received a $2 mln federal grant to test an automated rolling stock inspection system.
The pilot project is to be implemented by the commuter operator Metro-North Railroad. This is one of 34 projects selected from 321 grant applicants for the SMART grants programme by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The pilot project’s activities will include planning and prototyping, which are to be realised in Stage 1 of the two-stage SMART programme. The integrated rolling stock inspection system will use a suite of sensors and software to create automated alerts of undesirable train component conditions.
The MTA Metro-North Railroad provides service on five lines to the north of New York. The operator has a fleet of EMUs, as well as diesel locomotives and coaches which are used on non-electrified sections of the network.
