Knorr-Bremse and Chiltern Railways extend rail adhesion trial

Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems UK and Chiltern Railways have announced a 12-month extension to their joint railhead low adhesion monitoring trial, which is now scheduled to run until August 2027. Supported by Angel Trains, the project aims to provide the rail industry with real-time data regarding wheel-to-rail adhesion levels.

The technology is currently installed on a Class 165 train operating on the Chiltern Main Line and the London to Aylesbury route. Unlike conventional systems that only detect wheel slide or traction slip, this solution calculates actual adhesion values during braking events, including the moments before and after Wheel Slide Protection activation.

The extension will allow the trial to capture a second autumn leaf fall season, helping to strengthen the dataset and identify specific adhesion hotspots and seasonal trends. The goal is to enable a more proactive approach to managing track conditions across the UK rail network.