HBD(Hot Box Detector) is a device to monitor temperature rises to inappropriate lubricant use or mechanical defects. If a train operates without recognizing such an effect, it might result in bearing overheating due to defects and cause a dangerous situation that it could derail a train owing to the damage of axles. Now for the Gyeongbu HSL at 300km/h, the laws related to monitoring overheated axle bearings are notified in the Railway Safety Law and the Railway Construction Law. But in case of the conventional speed-up lines that a train operates at 180 to 230 km/h, the revised bill of relevant standards is ongoing. Therefore in this paper we present references and reviews investigated in order to use the optimal HBD in the conventional speed-up lines.

In 2004, 300km/h speed of high-speed rail was introduced in Korea. In recent years, policies and technologies are being developed with the goal of increased speed higher than 400km/h. HEMU-430X vehicles have been developed during the test, and technology-related infrastructure is under development. In addition, studies are underway for improving the speed of 500km/h or more. In more than 400km/h, track irregularity due to bearing force of track is increasing rapidly. In this study, applicability for the track structure with steel sleeper, to investigate alternatives that can reduce bearing force of track and maintenance costs.