The reliability and safety of railway operations directly depend on the timely detection of rail defects. Ultrasonic testing has proven to be one of the most effective non-destructive testing methods. Today, a wide range of equipment is used for this purpose: from manual inspection trolleys to high-speed automated systems installed on locomotives and road-rail vehicles. Practical field experience, supported by many years of operation, along with modern technologies - particularly the OKOSCAN-73HS system - demonstrates that the optimal combination of inspection quality, mobility, and cost efficiency delivers maximum performance.

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The safety of railway operations across the globe relies significantly on the quality and integrity of the railway tracks. Tracks in good condition serve as the foundation for safe and reliable transportation, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring smooth operations. Achieving and maintaining such safety standards in the most efficient and cost-effective manner involves the implementation of Risk-Based Engineering principles. These principles provide a structured framework for assessing and mitigating potential risks associated with railway tracks.

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The reliability and safety of railway operations - especially on high-speed and heavily loaded track sections - are determined by a combination of factors, among which timely detection of rail defects is one of the most critical. During operation, rails are subjected to significant dynamic loads and high stresses in the wheel-rail contact zone, leading to the development of metal contact fatigue. Even minor internal discontinuities or surface damage under such conditions can evolve into critical defects and significantly increase the risk of rail fracture. Effective non-destructive testing (rail flaw detection) of rails makes it possible to detect such hazardous flaws at early stages and prevent their progression to a critical level.

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Manual rail inspection on the track is used in two scenarios:

• As a confirmatory inspection of defects detected during continuous rail inspection using single-rail and double-rail flaw detectors or, in some cases, high-speed ultrasonic rail inspection systems.
• As an acceptance inspection of aluminothermic welded rail joints.

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Hand-pushed flaw detectors, such as the UDS2-73 and UDS2-77, are used for confirmatory inspections following high-speed ultrasonic rail testing or for primary inspections of small track sections, tight-radius curves, station tracks, and other areas where high-speed systems are impractical or ineffective.

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The middle link in the rail track quality management system (in the part of ultrasonic rail inspection) is the rails ultrasonic testing using hand-pushed ultrasonic rail inspection trolleys, also known as ultrasonic single-rail and dual-rail flaw detectors. This is the most widespread class of equipment used on all railways in the world.

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The OKOSCAN-73HS systems can be mounted on various chassis to meet diverse user requirements. A railway car or hi-rail truck with a dedicated cabin offers ample space for large displays and ensures comfortable working conditions for operators — essential for continuous inspection of extensive railway tracks.

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The systems of OKOSCAN-73HS family can be mounted on different chassis depending on end user`s requirements. A railway car or a hi-rail truck with truck bed will allow using large monitors and comfortable conditions for operators` work which is essential during continuous inspection of large railway track areas. Usage of hi-rail trucks is the most universal option because it allows to start and finish inspection at any rail/road crossing. This helps to plan inspection in the areas with busy train traffic.

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