Short Circuit Localisation

Conventional technologies cannot accurately detect the location of short circuits. In collaboration with Frauscher Sensonic, ÖBB has conducted research on short-circuit localisation using existing optical fibres installed parallel to the line.

After two years of research and the development of an evaluation algorithm, a short circuit was localised automatically with an optical fibre on the test track Wels - Passau for the first time on 21. January 2019. Practice shows that the location of short-circuits can be measured with an accuracy of up to 10 m.

Author: Klaus Leithner, ÖBB