Reliable Starts & Reduced Dead Won’t Starts (DWS)
Reliable Starts & Reduced Dead Won’t Starts (DWS)
Why Dead Won’t Starts Are Costly and Disruptive
A Dead Won’t Start (DWS) event means more than just a delay—it halts operations, strains resources, and drives up unplanned costs. As locomotives age and operating conditions become more demanding, DWS incidents remain a persistent issue. Common causes include:
Rail operators need reliable restarts every time—regardless of weather, location, or dwell duration.
Why?
1
Battery Depletion
Long idle periods drain battery power, making engines difficult to restart.
2
Cold Weather
Low temperatures reduce battery efficiency and increase cranking demands.
3
No On-Site Crew
Remote locations delay intervention when locomotives won’t start
4
Idle-Based Charging
Relying on prolonged idling to recharge batteries accelerates wear and is often ineffective.
The consequences?
- Costly service calls and delays in train movement
- Crew time wasted waiting for recovery
- Negative impact on customer service and operational reliability
- Increased emissions from unnecessary idling
The ZTR Solution
A locomotive is parked overnight. In the morning, it’s scheduled for a job—but the engine won’t crank. The crew calls for help. Operations are stalled. Another DWS incident.
KickStart is ZTR’s proven starting assist and battery management system. It stores energy in powerful supercapacitors and delivers a quick, high-current boost to the starter motor—ensuring consistent cranking voltage, even when batteries are weak or temperatures are freezing.
KickStart with Bus Boost™ Technology
- Instantly supplements battery power during startup
- Prevents voltage dips that cause failed starts
- Extends battery life by reducing deep discharges
- Ensures restarts in extreme cold or remote locations
Combine with SmartStart® AESS for smarter shutdowns and restarts.
SmartStart automatically shuts down the engine during idle periods and restarts it based on critical thresholds—battery voltage, coolant temperature, air pressure—so your locomotives aren’t running just to avoid a DWS.
This reduces fuel use, emissions, and unnecessary battery drain while keeping locomotives ready when needed.
Looking for advanced control? NexSys is the answer.
ZTR’s NexSys control system takes reliability a step further. With integrated KickStart and SmartStart functionality, plus customizable idle and restart logic, it eliminates DWS risks and improves fleet readiness.
Operators can define:
- Dwell rules for restart windows
- Environmental and electrical conditions for cranking
- Restart sequences based on unit priority
See it all in real time with Vision.
ZTR’s Vision platform tracks restart success, DWS event prevention, and battery health across your fleet. With intuitive dashboards and reports, you can:
- Identify units at risk of DWS
- Quantify prevented DWS events
- Analyze performance by location or season
- Optimize battery and idle management strategies
The result?
Fewer DWS events. Faster restarts. Reduced emergency responses. Extended battery life. And locomotives that are always ready to move.
This is ZTR’s approach to solving Dead Won’t Starts—with technology that keeps your operations rolling.
ZTR Technologies at Work
Starting assist and battery management system to prevent DWS and ensure reliable cranking.
Automatic engine shutdown and restart technology that minimizes idle time and battery depletion.
Knowledge Hub
Discover expert insights, case studies, whitepapers, and blogs that explore the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in the railway industry.
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