Representatives from Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems UK and Chiltern Railways will present interim results from the year-long network trial of a Low Adhesion Monitoring System at next week’s ADHERE (ADHEsion REsearch) Seminar in Birmingham (03–04 March).
Supported by the Adhesion Research Group (ARG) and the University of Huddersfield, the trial is enabling for the first time, quantification of wheel adhesion and identification of low adhesion ‘hot spots’ across the network to enhance safety and performance.
Developed by Knorr-Bremse and jointly engineered with Chiltern Railways, the system has been installed on Class 165 unit 165004 - the first in-service train fitted with this technology - operating on the Chiltern Main Line and the London-Aylesbury line. Enhanced with Knorr-Bremse’s MGS3 software and bespoke monitoring instrumentation, it has been continuously capturing real-time adhesion, braking, and wheel slide data since the trial began in September 2025, without impacting existing train systems.
Attendees can expect to hear detailed analysis of braking performance data captured, including an insight into the number of low adhesion hot spots that have been identified, the frequency and distribution of Wheel Slide Protection (WSP) events, and where these have occurred geographically.
John May, Digital Services Business Development Manager at Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems, said: “This programme is delivering continuous, real-time adhesion data, allowing us to directly measure how low adhesion influences braking performance and wheel slide in service. We’re now capturing in-service data at a scale the industry has not previously achieved.
“We are looking forward to engaging with industry colleagues to present the interim findings in detail at next week ADHERE seminar, hear perspectives from project partners, and contribute to the wider industry dialogue on tackling low adhesion. The seminar provides an important forum to share evidence from the trial and discuss how data-led insights can support improvements in safety and operational performance.”
The Knorr-Bremse team will also present the trial’s interim findings at the forthcoming Railway Industry Association Innovation Conference in Newport, Wales (17–18 March), alongside its groundbreaking FreightControl Sentinel technology - highlighting how advanced braking intelligence and real-time data analytics are enabling safer, more efficient operations across both passenger and freight networks.