Rail profile measurement made flexible
Non-contact rail and third-rail profile and wear measurement
What is Plasser RailScan?
Plasser RailScan is a modular, non-contact rail and third-rail profile measuring system based on laser triangulation technology. Built on more than 20 years of field engineering experience, it provides highly accurate, high-resolution rail cross-section data and derives wear, inclination, rail type, and other profile-related parameters for
infrastructure monitoring and maintenance. In-house development and manufacturing of key technologies enable flexible deployment across different networks and requirements. The system is available as Plasser RailScan and Plasser RailScan Pro to suit varying accuracy needs.
Benefits
- High-accuracy rail profile measurement
- Early detection of rail and third-rail wear
- Improved rail grinding planning
- Better understanding of wheel-rail interaction
- Flexible deployment
- Unattended monitoring
- Compliant with EN 15302 and EN 13231-3
Configurable rail profile acquisition
Plasser RailScan adapts to varying measurement needs through configurable setups. Depending on the required coverage, it can perform gauge-side profile acquisition or complete rail cross-section acquisition using gauge-side and field-side optical units. Its compact design supports installation on bogies, vehicle frames, and various
vehicle platforms, for rail wear monitoring, grinding and track geometry applications on Vignoles rails and grooved rail networks
Rail wear and wheel-rail contact analysis
Plasser RailScan automatically identifies and measures up to 100 rail parameters and characteristics, including vertical head wear, gauge side wear, field-side wear, 45° wear and rail inclination. Automatic rail type recognition applies the correct reference template for wear calculation, while the measured profile supports equivalent conicity calculation according to EN 15302.
From inspection to grinding applications
Plasser RailScan Pro supports rail grinding applications by comparing measured and target rail profiles before and after reprofiling. Installed on grinding vehicles, the system helps assess profile conformity, material removal, and grinding quality, supporting GQI calculation and acceptance workflows according to EN 13231-3 where applicable.
Power-rail measurement extension
Additional optical units can be integrated to measure third-rail or power-rail position on networks using this type of traction power supply. The same laser-based measurement concept can therefore be extended beyond running rails, supporting the assessment of powerrail height, lateral position, and alignment.
Plasser RailScan
Standard rail profile measurement with 150 µm accuracy for infrastructure monitoring and maintenance applications.
Plasser RailScan Pro
High-accuracy rail profile measurement with 50 µm accuracy for applications requiring enhanced metrological performance.