Background
The railway operator currently depends on GPS devices installed on locomotives that are connected with the wagons and containers to monitor the movement of freight services. However, wagons are not fitted with GPS devices, as they are often interchanged, replaced, detached, or rerouted during operations. With a fleet of approximately 3,000 wagons nationwide, the operator faces considerable challenges in accurately determining the real-time location and status of wagons and containers. Presently, wagon tracking is carried out manually by operators at yards, depots, ports, and stations. This manual process is time-consuming, susceptible to human error, and lacks real-time visibility, especially for cross-border movements. To improve operational efficiency, reporting accuracy, and asset visibility, the railway operator needs a dependable and automated method to track wagons and containers throughout their journey.
Challenge
The railway operator encounters multiple challenges in managing wagon and container tracking:
- Lack of direct tracking on wagons
Wagons do not have dedicated GPS devices, making them difficult to trace independently from locomotives. - Operational disruptions
Wagons may be:
- Sent to depots for maintenance due to breakdowns
- Left behind or not returned to the intended location
- Unaccounted for after cross-border journeys
- Manual dependency
Tracking relies heavily on manual inspections and reporting by operators, increasing the risk of delays, inconsistencies, and human error. - Limited visibility for reporting
Difficulty in identifying wagon and container positions complicates asset reporting and operational planning.
Methodology
To address these challenges, an OCR-based solution for wagon and container identification is proposed.
The methodology includes:
- Automated ID detection
OCR technology is deployed to detect and read wagon and container identification numbers as they pass through strategic locations such as yards, depots, ports, and stations. - Minimised human intervention
The system automatically captures and processes ID data, significantly reducing reliance on manual checks and eliminating potential human errors. - Real-time data acquisition
Detected IDs are recorded and transmitted in real time, providing up-to-date information on wagon and container movements. - Centralised asset visibility
All detected data is consolidated into a central system, enabling the railway operator to monitor availability, movement, and status of wagons and containers across the network.
Result
With the implementation of the OCR-based tracking solution, the railway operator achieves:
- Improved asset visibility
Real-time tracking of wagon and container movements without requiring GPS installation on each wagon. - Operational efficiency
Faster and more accurate reporting, waybill generation, and asset reconciliation. - Reduced errors and losses
Minimisation of human error and improved identification of wagons that are delayed, misplaced, or undergoing maintenance.
Enhanced decision-makingAccurate, real-time data enables better planning, monitoring of cross-border operations, and improved overall asset management.
