RFID for more effective and efficient train maintenance : A case study of a train depot in a deregulated market

Abstract: In this master thesis the potential value of using RFID technology in train depots has been investigated. Train depots are a crucial part of the railway system as safe and timely traffic relies on the maintenance activities preformed in them. The Swedish passenger train traffic is expected to increase significantly in the coming years and the ability to expand the existing train depots is limited. Optimal utilization of depots, achieved by efficient and effective operations, is therefore crucial. Coordinating the activities within depots is a complex activity due to the limited resources, inflexible infrastructure and the need for continuous monitoring due to unforeseen events. The complexity is further increased with the large number of independent actors. Due to EU-directives all member nations have to liberalize their passenger railway markets, enabling new actors to enter the market. Sweden's passenger railway market was fully deregulated in 2010. For this thesis a case study on one of the largest depots in Sweden has been conducted to examine how RFID technology can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its depot operations. The most important factors for achieving this is to facilitate an efficient flow of vehicles between service stations and efficient and accurate flow of communication between the many actors. Based on this, three key objectives were identified for achieving effective and efficient depot operations; communication, coordination and transparency. The benefits of RFID have been analyzed within the areas; asset tracking, maintenance and safety, and opportunities for achieving the key objectives were identified within each of these areas. The findings show that RFID enables for better utilization of resources, which allows more trains to use the depot. Also, cost savings can be captured by automating manual tasks. The effectiveness of the maintenance operations can be improved by elimination of non-value adding activities and the risk of mistakes due to the human factor. It was also discovered that the transparent data that RFID provides can improve stakeholder relations and that it could be used for identification of problem areas. Conclusively, the findings of the study show that effectiveness and efficiency of train depots can be improved with the use of RFID to meet the future demands of an increased passenger train traffic.