The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has announced the launch of its groundbreaking Route Availability (RA) Calculator.
The RA calculator is an online tool which is designed to simplify route planning for the whole UK-wide rail industry.
The rail industry has long faced time-consuming and complex calculations to assess vehicle compatibility with bridges. The new calculator will accelerate and streamline the process of determining a train’s RA number and determine whether it is suitable to run on a particular section of the railway.
The train’s RA number is calculated from its axle distances and axle loads, via the tool accessible on the RSSB website.
The number can then be compared with the RA numbers of route sections and bridges to determine whether the train can run on that section.
The RSSB is the independent safety, standards and research body for Great Britain’s rail network, promoting safety, efficiency and sustainability.
The Board performs research into the main issues hindering performance on the railway, sifting through data to advise members and introducing new guidance and tools, such as the RA Calculator, to help train operations run more smoothly.
The Board’s data and insights help to create an easier and more effective decision-making process, boosting rail efficiency.
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