Automatic Vehicle Inspection System

Transport for London (TfL) is seeking to engage with the market to understand available solutions for an automated vehicle inspection system to undertake condition inspection of rolling stock as part of routine maintenance activities.

TfL is seeking solutions capable of providing automated inspection of train bodyside, roof and underframe equipment as trains arrive at maintenance facilities. Solutions should be capable of identifying individual vehicles by painted number and capturing condition data of the vehicle during train movements.

Solutions should be capable of detecting, classifying and reporting defects and asset condition issues, including, but not limited to, overheating components (such as brake resistors, bearings, traction equipment, HVAC equipment, brake blocks, wheelsets, traction motors and gearboxes), graffiti, broken windows, missing, damaged or misaligned components, damaged collector shoes, underframe damage, out-of-gauge equipment, wheel profile defects, wheel flats and brake wear using video & thermal imaging and acoustic monitoring technologies.

The inspection capability should cover both sides of the vehicle, the roof and underframe, and be applicable to both multiple-unit and single-unit train formations. Solutions should provide secure capture, storage and management of inspection data, including images and sensor outputs, and utilise automated analytics, including Machine Learning (ML) and/or Artificial Intelligence (AI) where appropriate, to identify defects, trends and recurring issues and provide actionable information to maintenance personnel.

TfL is particularly interested in understanding how proposed solutions can reduce manual inspection effort, improve maintenance efficiency, increase asset availability and support condition-based maintenance through frequent, automated fleet inspections.

This planned procurement will be for a phased proof of concept and prototype trial and implementation at up to two London Underground Rolling Stock maintenance depots only. Depending on the outcome and demonstrated benefits, TfL may elect to procure further installations at other London Underground maintenance depots.

The proposed procurement is envisaged to be delivered in three phases as defined below (subject to change):

Phase 1: Concept design and development of the proposed solution.

Phase 2: Subject to successful completion of Phase 1, development, installation and evaluation of a Proof of Concept at up to two London Underground Rolling Stock maintenance depots .

Phase 3: Subject to business approval, potential fleet-wide rollout of the solution across the TfL's network. Phase 3 represents a potential future requirement only. Any future requirements under Phase 3 (in whole or in part) shall proceed at TfL's sole discretion and this EME or participation on in any future tender shall not constitute a commitment or guarantee of volume.

As part of this EME, interested parties should note that TfL reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to develop any individual phase, any combination of phases, or none of the phases. Progression between phases is not guaranteed and remains subject to the TfL's continued business requirements, funding availability and internal approvals.

The future procurement shall include defined break points at the end of each phase. TfL may, at its sole discretion, elect not to proceed to any subsequent phase without liability, other than for deliverables satisfactorily completed and accepted in accordance with the future Contract. No commitment is made to proceed beyond any phase, irrespective of the success of any preceding phase.