Dutch Rail Provider NS Renews Fleet Inspections
Nederlandese Spoorwegen (NS), the main passenger rail operator in the Netherlands, has announced a “pioneering” project aimed at revolutionizing fleet inspection efficiency. This project will be carried out in collaboration with CAF Digital Services (CAF), Camlin Rail, and Arcadis.

In 2021, NS selected CAF to participate in a unique railway project that uses state-of-the-art technologies, including the LeadMind digital platform and Camlin Rail’s TrainVue in-service inspection system. The system will be deployed across ten strategic locations along NS’s mainline, creating a nationwide network. NS collaborated with Arcadis, CAF, and Camlin Rail to develop a generic civil structure portal using BIM.
Under the contract, CAF Digital Services’ LeadMind platform will integrate with Camlin’s TrainVue system to provide images of bogies and pantographs, enabling NS to adopt technological advancements for more efficient railway maintenance.
The deployment includes 10 TrainVue systems, capturing high-resolution 3D and 2D images of pantographs and bogies, crucial for fleet reliability, availability, and safety. The national rollout follows the successful pilot project, where the first two systems were installed and validated.
Paul Fleming, Managing Director of Camlin Rail, emphasized the successful collaboration and highlighted the quality and reliability of the TrainVue system in acquiring high-resolution images for both automatic and manual inspections of the NS fleet.
The project also marks the first time in Europe that a train operator (NS) has installed train inspection equipment (TrainVue) on infrastructure owned by ProRail, demonstrating scalability and innovation in rail monitoring.
Arcadis Project Manager Erik van der Peet noted that the 3D model helped overcome language and cultural barriers and optimize image quality, ensuring no structural elements impacted inspection visuals.
CAF Digital Services Managing Director Javier de la Cruz emphasized that the project improved rail safety and efficiency by digitizing 48-hour train inspections, allowing NS to conduct inspections during the day and perform maintenance at night.
NS Project Manager Barbara de Jong stated that the TrainVue system and LeadMind platform allow for optimized maintenance processes, marking the first step toward further advancements in the maintenance of the NS fleet.