Reliability Improvement in the Traction System of Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway

Abstract

In recent years, many African governments have been developing Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to replace the old after becoming absolute, inefficient Meter Gauge System (MGR) to carry more loads at high mileage and speed while combating the oil and environmental crises. With the increase of SGR, the amount of traction systems has grown sharply, the service life of the traction system has increased gradually, and the components of the vehicle traction system have become worn and aged as a result. While Tanzania is transitioning to SGR with its gradually increasing traction systems, reliability improvement becomes a key for the sustainability of its high-speed train services. This paper, therefore, aims to improve the reliability of traction motors used in Tanzania’s SGR. Firstly, the factors affecting the reliability of the traction system of Tanzania’s SGR and their significance are evaluated. Secondly, the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) is designed to streamline and automate the maintenance management processes of the traction system of Tanzania’s SGR. Finally, a regression model is established to forecast the uptime based on the established factors. The obtained uptime hours were predicted in order to compute the reliability of the traction motor and its criticality in operation. Critical factors for improving reliability have also been highlighted. These findings play vital roles in establishing the fundamentals of factors that affect reliability as well as strategies and countermeasures to extend the operational life of the traction motors cost-effectively.