LINEAR REFERENCE SYSTEM (LRS) FOR RAIL IN SOUTH AFRICA

A COMMON RAIL LANGUAGE FOR A SAFER, SMARTER AND MORE EFFICIENT RAIL NETWORK
A Linear Reference System provides an accurate, unambiguous method to locate, measure and manage every asset and event along the national rail network.
ONE NETWORK.
ONE LANGUAGE.
ONE FUTURE. Building a connected, safe and
sustainable rail system for South Africa
1 Full GIS Viewer — LRS-Enabled Rail Network

Loading 3D tiles…
2 What is an LRS for rail?
An LRS references locations along a rail route using a unique Route ID and a measured distance (chainage) from a defined start point — plus an optional offset left/right of the centreline.
Route  FREIGHT_MAIN_01
Location  125.350 km
Offset  2.50 m Right
This enables precise location of assets, events and operational information anywhere on the network.
5 LRS Components
  • ⌧
    Routes — continuous track alignments (main line, branches, loops)
  • ↕
    Directions — Up/Down · Northbound–Southbound per line
  • ⏱
    Measures — chainage in km/m from a calibrated datum
  • ◎
    Calibration points — fixed references with known chainage
  • ◆
    Events — point / linear data located by measure & offset
9 Network Capacity — Train Paths per Day

Capacity by corridor

Theoretical vs available train paths/day · marker = utilisation

Most capacity-constrained routes

Utilisation = available ÷ theoretical · >100% = over capacity

3 How an LRS works (concept)
Every asset / event is located by Route ID + Measure (chainage) ± Offset  ·  e.g. FREIGHT_MAIN_01 · 125.350 km · 2.50 m Right
4 Full View of a Single Rail Section — Track Chart
Click a rail line on the 3D map, or pick a route, to see its track chart, profile and schematic.
6 Longitudinal Section — Ground Profile (DEM)
Click the profile to take a cross-section there · gradients (‰) between stations.
7 Cross Section — Offset Concept (DEM)
8 Schematic — Straight-Line Diagram (multi-section)
10 Key Outputs & Uses
  • ✓
    Accurate asset registers & inventories
  • ✓
    Work orders & maintenance scheduling by chainage
  • ✓
    Incident location & emergency response
  • ✓
    Network performance, capacity & planning
  • ✓
    Design / infrastructure projects · BIM & digital-twin integration
12 Technology & Systems
🗺️
GIS / LRS Platform
🛢️
Databases (PostGIS)
🔗
Integration
🧊
Digital Twins
Enabling a connected, data-driven rail network for South Africa