ABSTRACT
The main goal of the railway superstructure diagnostics lies in the detection of dangers which are analyzed in consideration of their connection. The diagnostics also fulfills its role e.g. in planning of track works. While examining tasks of the diagnostics for the HSR the specific features of a defined railway network cannot be omitted as without them presentation of those tasks would be incomplete. The tasks of diagnostics examined in this chapter refer therefore to the railway network in Poland where the HS of trains are only being introduced. The most important task in this field is to achieve of the high quality of railway roads. The superstructure diagnostics as a technique of control of this quality will have a high importance in this area.
An indicator based on the standard deviations of track irregularities constitutes an objective synthetic evaluation of the track state in Poland. In comparison with the data of some other railways it results unfavorably. The reason lies in a not always elevated quality of track renewal works.
The strategy of Condition Based Maintenance of the railway superstructure which is in vigor in the majority of countries requires a good level of diagnostics and forecasting of the occurring changes. An enhancement of the diagnostics requires i.a.
– an increased frequency of inspection tours of railway lines by measuring units,
– big accuracy of measurements,
– need of measurement of track irregularities of long and short sites.
Those tasks will be achieved by a currently introduced new measurement unit. Modifications of the computer programs having been in use for many years, which support diagnostic decisions, are necessary together with in- service training of the employees responsible for maintenance of railway roads.