Development of a prototype low-cost system to detect axle locks, wheel flats, and high bearing temperatures on railway freight wagons

This project will develop the “AxleSense” system, capable of detecting locked axles, wheel flats and high bearing temperatures on railway freight wagon wheelsets. This technology will help prevent high profile incidents such as the derailment and fire which occurred in an environmentally sensitive area near Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, in 2020.
This incident alone cost the rail industry millions of £s, with the affected line closed for 7-months to allow for the environmental cleanup and repair to infrastructure. Numerous similar events have occurred recently and the rail freight industry is desperate for an economically viable solution.