A rail vehicle has a vehicle frame which, supported on on-track undercarriages, is mobile on the rails of a track. The rail vehicle includes a first measuring platform with a first inertial measuring system for recording a track course. A second measuring platform is arranged on the rail vehicle, with a second inertial measuring system and at least one sensor device for recording surface points of a track section. The second measuring platform and the second inertial measuring system enable the movement of the sensor device in the three-dimensional space to be recorded in a simple manner.

A rail vehicle has a vehicle frame which, supported on on-track undercarriages, is mobile on the rails of a track. The rail vehicle includes a first measuring platform with a first inertial measuring system for recording a track course. A second measuring platform is arranged on the rail vehicle, with a second inertial measuring system and at least one sensor device for recording surface points of a track section. The second measuring platform and the second inertial measuring system enable the movement of the sensor device in the three-dimensional space to be recorded in a simple manner.

A rail-guided permanent way machine is operated by means of a control device in such a way that at least one state variable (Z) of the permanent way machine is determined in dependence on an operating state, and the at least one state variable is compared to at least one pre-defined limit value (G.sub.W, G.sub.S) for monitoring a derailment safety of the permanent way machine. Thus, the derailment safety of the permanent way machine is determined in accordance with the current operating state and monitored. As a result, the permanent way machine has an expanded operating range and increased performance and thus increased efficiency.

A rail-guided permanent way machine is operated by means of a control device in such a way that at least one state variable (Z) of the permanent way machine is determined in dependence on an operating state, and the at least one state variable is compared to at least one pre-defined limit value (G.sub.W, G.sub.S) for monitoring a derailment safety of the permanent way machine. Thus, the derailment safety of the permanent way machine is determined in accordance with the current operating state and monitored. As a result, the permanent way machine has an expanded operating range and increased performance and thus increased efficiency.

The invention relates to a method of controlling a track maintenance machine, particularly a switch tamping- or universal tamping machine, which moves along a track and has working units, particularly a tamping unit and a lifting unit, which are adjustable relative to a machine frame, wherein position data of track objects, particularly sleepers, rails and optionally obstacles, are recorded by means of a sensor device in front of the working units in a working direction, and wherein operating positions of the working units are determined for a working operation at a track location. In this, prior to actuation of the working units, the determined operating positions of the working units are displayed by means of a display device, wherein, prior to carrying out the working operation, the operating positions of the working units can be changed by means of control elements. As a result of the display of the determined operating positions prior to the working operation, an operator is enabled to recognize possible misalignments before these become effective.

The invention relates to a method of controlling a track maintenance machine, particularly a switch tamping- or universal tamping machine, which moves along a track and has working units, particularly a tamping unit and a lifting unit, which are adjustable relative to a machine frame, wherein position data of track objects, particularly sleepers, rails and optionally obstacles, are recorded by means of a sensor device in front of the working units in a working direction, and wherein operating positions of the working units are determined for a working operation at a track location. In this, prior to actuation of the working units, the determined operating positions of the working units are displayed by means of a display device, wherein, prior to carrying out the working operation, the operating positions of the working units can be changed by means of control elements. As a result of the display of the determined operating positions prior to the working operation, an operator is enabled to recognize possible misalignments before these become effective.

A method for determining vertical and lateral position faults of a track employs a track position measuring system having a common reference base formed of a single measuring chord disposed centrally between the rails and extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine. Two sensors are disposed on a central track position measuring unit for determining a longitudinal height and for determining a versine. The sensors each contact the measuring chord. Each track position measuring unit has two laser scanners, which are associated with respective rails, for scanning in a y-axis extending normal to a longitudinal direction of the rails and in a z-axis extending in a vertical direction. A track maintenance machine for carrying out track position corrections is also provided. Thus, a simplification of the track position measuring system with increased accuracy can be achieved.

A method for determining vertical and lateral position faults of a track employs a track position measuring system having a common reference base formed of a single measuring chord disposed centrally between the rails and extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine. Two sensors are disposed on a central track position measuring unit for determining a longitudinal height and for determining a versine. The sensors each contact the measuring chord. Each track position measuring unit has two laser scanners, which are associated with respective rails, for scanning in a y-axis extending normal to a longitudinal direction of the rails and in a z-axis extending in a vertical direction. A track maintenance machine for carrying out track position corrections is also provided. Thus, a simplification of the track position measuring system with increased accuracy can be achieved.

A guide system including a railway rail extending along an axis and including an upper element having a rolling face; a lower element having a bearing face; a connecting element between the lower and upper elements, at least one lateral recess being formed between the lower and upper elements; at least first and second attitude sensors fixed to the rail by glue at respective positions offset along the axis of the rail, the attitude sensors being housed at least partially in the lateral recess; a processing circuit configured to recover attitude measurements supplied by the first and second attitude sensors and configured to calculate a deformation of the railway rail relative to the axis as a function of the recovered attitude measurements.

A method and device for compacting the ballast bed of a track, especially in the region of a switch, comprising a switch tamping machine (1), which is fitted with a tamping unit (4), a lifting and lining device (2) comprising at least one pair of roller pincers (6) and at least one lifting hook (7) for lining the track position, and which is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner on the machine frame (2) in the longitudinal direction of the machine. In order to provide advantageous lining conditions, it is proposed that a switch component measuring system (3), which is provided upstream of the lifting and lining device (2) in the working direction (C), is provided for the position-dependent measurement of the position of the switch components.