Innotrack is a unique opportunity to bring together rail infrastructure managers (IM) and industry suppliers, the two major players in the rail industry, and to concentrate on the research issues that will contribute to the reduction of rail infrastructure Life Cycle Cost (LCC).

To achieve step change investment alone is not sufficient, significant innovation and technology transfer is essential.  This can only be achieved with very close cooperation between IMs and industry suppliers.  It is essential that the IMs, as the end users, set out their priorities and needs, at a European Level, to solve the necessary problems for achieving the white paper objectives.

This will be done by performing research on four key topics:

• Track Support Structure
• Switches and Crossings
• Rails
• Logistics for track maintenance and renewal

The questionnaires on this web site are aimed at helping the project team begin to:

• Analyse the root causes of identified issues on a European scale taking into account the effect of different duty conditions whilst providing product and service solutions for cheaper and longer lasting tracks
• Draw together common European specifications regarding Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) combined with LCC
• Provide innovative solutions to reduce failure rates and decrease LCC of material, equipment, machinery and systems

All data entered on this web site will be dealt with in confidence by the University of Birmingham.  Data will be made anonymous prior to distribution within the project consortium and wide community.

Finally, the results of InnoTrack will be widely disseminated through UIC and UNIFE, two organisations representing IMs and industry.

For further information on the Innotrack project please see www.innotrack.eu. For queries regarding the questionnaire website, please contact Dr Clive Roberts (University of Birmingham).