KORAIL, Germany's DB Systemtechnik (DBST) to Cooperate on AI-Based Maintenance of Railway Electrical Equipment

[Financial News] Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) will share artificial intelligence (AI)-based predictive maintenance technology with a German railway engineering company. The initiative aims to enhance railway safety management capabilities by advancing systems that identify signs of abnormalities in electrical equipment before failures occur and carry out maintenance proactively.
KORAIL announced on the 27th that it visited Berlin, Germany, on the 23rd local time and signed a memorandum of understanding on advancing railway electrical maintenance technology with DB Systemtechnik (DBST), a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn. The two organizations agreed to share advanced inspection and maintenance technologies, including AI-based predictive maintenance (PdM), as well as their operational expertise. They will also pursue regular technical exchanges, training tailored to each organization's needs, and on-site visits.
PdM is a method of analyzing signs of abnormalities and performing maintenance proactively before equipment failures occur. It is a system with enhanced predictive capabilities compared with condition-based maintenance (CBM), which determines when maintenance should be performed based on the condition of the equipment.
At a technical exchange session held after the agreement was signed, KORAIL introduced its operations of automatic inspection systems and condition-based and predictive maintenance. It also shared its mid- to long-term plans to advance maintenance using AI. An automatic inspection system uses equipment installed on operating trains to monitor the conditions of overhead contact lines, tracks, rail lines, signaling systems, and communications equipment in real time. Park Young-sik, head of KORAIL's Electrical Division, said, "Based on the expertise of railway companies in the two countries, we will strengthen our electrical equipment maintenance capabilities to support safe railway operations and expand opportunities to enter overseas markets."
[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter