Belvoir Rail and rail technology specialists Incremental visited Salt Lake City in Utah recently to begin trials of a new combined pantograph monitoring solution designed to transform rail reliability and safety.
The new solution integrates Belvoir Rail’s mechanical monitoring system with Incremental’s OLErt data and analytics technology.
By delivering real-time insights into both pantograph condition and overhead line performance, the system helps operators prevent major incidents, reduce disruption, and extend the life of assets.
Belvoir Rail’s Pantograph Monitoring System uses accelerometers and other mechanical devices to measure vibration, shocks and temperature, building a detailed vibration data map that can be tracked and compared over time.
Incremental’s OLErt, Overhead Electric Line Equipment monitoring system, is described as not simply a visual tool but a data-rich monitoring platform. Developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, OLErt combines advanced analytics, AI and multiple data sources to deliver continuous, real-time insights into pantograph and overhead line condition. Fitted onto ordinary passenger trains, including high-speed services, OLErt continuously monitors and processes data on board, detecting issues such as pantograph flips, contact force problems, arcing, out-of-tolerance stagger and vegetation. Insights are streamed instantly via GSM, enabling rapid action.
In a recent UK trial, Belvoir Rail’s monitoring system fitted to a Northern train identified a previously undetected anomaly at a maintenance depot. Early detection led to rectification works being completed, directly preventing a potential future incident.
OLErt has been equally impactful, recognised with the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation 2024 for its contribution to railway safety and reliability. OLErt’s ability to deliver continuous, fleet-wide monitoring without the need for specialist vehicles is helping operators worldwide make smarter, data-driven maintenance decisions.
Together, the combined mechanical and data-driven system offer operators a unique dual capability, giving a deeper level of assurance across both rolling stock and infrastructure.
“The US trial is a major milestone for us,” said James Brown, Managing Director of Belvoir Rail. “By combining our mechanical expertise with Incremental’s data-driven intelligence, we’re giving operators the tools to spot and fix issues before they cause disruption. That’s game-changing for railway reliability worldwide.”
Lewis Gill, Chief Technical Officer at Incremental, added: “Railway operators are under pressure to maximise reliability while keeping costs under control. By integrating Belvoir’s innovative mechanical monitoring with our OLErt analytics and AI platform, we’re offering a solution that is both powerful and practical to deploy. This trial demonstrates how UK innovation can deliver safer, smarter, and more efficient rail networks on a global stage.”