Every piece of #rail is unique, as the metal alloy composition that makes the rails cannot be uniform at a microscope level. This affects ferromagnetism of the rail and gives every section a very distinctive electromagnetic field fingerprint.Scientists and engineers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and ITK Engineering in #Germany have developed train sensor technology that scans the rails' electromagnetic fields fingerprint to determine the position of the train on the tracks.The Magnetic Railway Onboard Sensor (MAROS) are added to each side of the underside of trains to scan both pieces of rail. The sensors measure the ferromagnetism properties, as well as electromagnetic fields changes/patterns, and intelligent algorithm software assigns each section of track an individual location signature to an exact geographical position. This allows for the accurate location of each train to be determined, as well as speed.Other functions of the MAROS include determining rail and fastening conditions/wear, as well as odometry via evaluation of time shift between sensors.The MAROS system has advantages over other location systems. While transceiver systems reliable, they are very expensive. Camara systems can be affected by night-time, other light changes, and weather events. GPS signals struggle in tunnels, mountainous valleys, and dense systems, as well as sometimes not determine which section of track they are on if multiple tracks are next to each other.It’s estimated that using the MAROs system could increase railway capacity by 35%, as the improved location accuracy can allow for closer headways.Successful testing has been conducted in Austria on various sections of track and plans to be on the market in 2025.