On-train rail track monitoring system

A method for monitoring a rail track, comprising:

• capturing video images from a moving passenger or freight train operating on the rail track during a regular service run of the train, by an imaging module located under the train;
• automatically processing captured video images in a computer on the train to determine whether an irregularity is present on the rail track according to a set of predetermined irregularity criteria;
• selecting video images that contain detected irregularities on the rail track for further analysis of each detected irregularity;
• and performing trend analysis.

A method for monitoring a rail track, comprising:

• capturing video images from a moving train operating on the rail track, by an imaging module located under the train;
• automatically processing captured video images using a digital motion detection algorithm to monitor an interface between a wheel of the train and the rail track;
• wherein the imaging module comprises (i) a first camera having a field of view (FOV) that is set to cover an interface between a right-hand rail and a corresponding right-hand wheel;
• (ii) a second camera having a FOV that is set to cover an interface between a left-hand rail and a corresponding left-hand wheel;
• (iii) a third camera that is set to cover a whole track including the two rails.

A method for monitoring a rail track, comprising:

• capturing video images from a moving train operating on the rail track;
• automatically processing captured video images using a digital image matching algorithm to compare the captured video images to stored images of irregularities of the rail track in a digital library to find a match;
• analyzing a matched video image to determine the nature of an irregularity;
• generating an alert signal to alert an irregularity if a parameter of the irregularity exceeds a safety standard threshold;
• and updating an anomalies trend database if a significant change is detected for a certain irregularity from a previous run but does not exceed a safety limit.