As part of the preparations and impact assessment for the next legislative framework governing European partnerships...
Bogies are critical components of railway vehicles and require regular maintenance to ensure safe, reliable and efficient operation. Across Europe, the use of onboard sensors, diagnostics and data analytics is enabling a shift towards condition-based approaches, where the health of bogie components can be assessed from their actual operating condition.
Europe’s Rail (EU-Rail) is supporting this transition by developing and demonstrating technologies for intelligent rolling stock asset management in real operational environments. This solution is an onboard bogie diagnostics system implemented on a Siemens Desiro HC regional train operating as part of the Rheintal Los 1 fleet in Germany.
The system continuously collects real operational data during regular passenger service and derives validated health states for key bogie components.
Within the EU-Rail FP3-IAM4RAIL project framework, the collected bogie health data is integrated into the operator’s DB360 digital environment, where it is analysed and verified based on real-world operation, enabling its use for operational maintenance and fleet management.
The solution is currently validated as a pilot solution in passenger rail operation.
TRL 6 – Demonstrated on an in-service Siemens Desiro HC passenger train under regular operation, with real bogie health data integrated and verified within the DB360 digital environment.
The solution increases flexibility in traditionally rigid, safety driven depot maintenance processes by introducing validated, condition-based bogie health information from real passenger operations.
The solution supports more informed maintenance decisions, reduces unnecessary component replacement and enables cost savings at both vehicle and workshop level. In addition, it contributes to sustainability by extending component usage based on actual condition and reducing material waste.
Supporting the evolution of railway maintenance, the EU-Rail solution enables increased process flexibility and more efficient use of resources. It also contributes to higher vehicle availability, reduced life cycle costs and greater transparency on the condition of bogie components.

This solution has been developed within the Europe’s Rail (EU-Rail) Flagship Project FP3-IAM4RAIL. The project FP3-IAM4RAIL focuses on seven different integrated demonstrators for rail assets which are key for research and innovation in the rail sector.