Systems thinking approach for improving maintenance management of discrete rail assets: a review and future perspectives

Performance evaluation and maintenance planning are gaining importance with ageing rail infrastructure increasing demand on track safety continuous availability. The discrete/point railway assets (e.g. bridges, level crossings) together extended sections constitute the main network infrastructure. former has important implications in train safety, riding comfort operating expenditures due to local intensified degradation plays a role effective capacity their large quantity. heterogeneity asset features environment also adds difficulties efficient of multiple discrete assets. current review screens issue crossings, as little concern been engaged this type, draws different perspectives related management. systems thinking approach is integrated two levels management (i.e. micro- macro-level) used structure synthesis, which interdependent synergistic. Two major approaches, namely, mechanistic data-driven modelling synthesised. Both contribute knowledge comparisons elaborated. Limitations existing studies identified directions for future research provided, aiming more refined ‘inspection diagnosis’ process properly capture issues move towards system-level crossings.