Predictika · Rail fastening system quotes

An AI sales agent's rail fastening quote, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a rail fastening quote for a track project: the fastening system, ballasted or slab track, sleeper, rail profile and rail pad, axle load, line speed, smallest curve radius, height and gauge adjustment, the site and the number of sets. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the system rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it used.

Scope: Vossloh fastening systems for ballasted and slab track: System W 14, W 21, W 30, W 40, KS 24, System 300, DFF 200, DFF 300 and DFF 30 HH, checked against axle load, speed, curve radius, adjustment, sleeper, profile, pad and site. See everything this validator covers

This validator models rail fastening system quotes, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • System and track — each system is used on ballasted or on slab track, with a rated axle load, a speed limit (160 km/h above 26 t) and a smallest curve radius that depends on the system and the load; above 250 km/h the radius must be at least 400 m.
  • Adjustment and parts — height raise and lowering and gauge adjustment ranges per system, wood sleepers only for W 21 and W 40, the 115RE profile only for W 14 and W 40, a TPU rail pad above 26 t, an abrasion plate only for heavy haul, and at least one set.
  • Approvals — a person confirms speeds above 250 km/h, axle loads above 30 t, desert heavy haul without an abrasion plate, a coastal site without protect coating, fewer than 500 sets, and a TPU pad on a light line.

Any rail fastening quote that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: switch systems, tram and metro systems, clip variants and prices; this validator produces no price build-up. The system names and the axle load, speed, radius and adjustment figures follow Vossloh's public brochures; the track-type grouping, sleeper and profile compatibility, the pad rule, the lot size, the environment rules and the approval wording are modeled from comparable fastening products and are not published by Vossloh.

The AI sales agentBuilds the rail fastening quote from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

6 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      
Waiting for the call.

Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong

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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Limits that change with the axle loadOnly with care
Above 26 t the speed limit, the minimum radius and the pad all change, so each rule must read the load and use the right row for the system.
The axle load is a field of one request and every dependent limit is recomputed together on every call.
A system that fits only one track typeOnly with care
Ballasted and slab systems are different families, so a rule must compare the chosen system with the chosen track type whatever order they were picked in.
Both fields are checked together on every call.
Speed above 250 km/h also needs a wider curveOnly with workarounds
The speed, the radius and the system limits interact, and a person must still confirm category D, so one rule alone cannot cover it.
The related findings are returned together with the approval.
Part compatibility by systemOnly with workarounds
Wood sleepers, the 115RE profile and the abrasion plate are allowed only for some systems or loads, so each needs its own condition tied to the system and the load.
Each part is a field of the request and is compared with the system on every call.
Approvals for loads, sites and small ordersOnly with workarounds
Several approval triggers (load, site, coating, lot size, pad) sit beside blocking rules and must be reported separately.
The approvals are separate findings returned together with the blocking ones.

What this validator catches: findings from its test cases

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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

1At 35 t axle load a person should review the project loading with engineering.
2At 32 t axle load a person should review the project loading with engineering.
3An axle load of 36 t is above the 35 t this system is rated for.
4At 36 t axle load a person should review the project loading with engineering.
5A line speed of 200 km/h is above the 160 km/h this system is rated for at this axle load.
6A smallest curve radius of 300 m is below the 400 m minimum for this system at this axle load.
7Above 26 t axle load the rail pad must be TPU; the quote has an EPDM pad at 30 t.
8At 300 km/h the line falls under EN 13,481 category D (high speed); a person should confirm the system approval for the project.
9A line speed of 330 km/h is above the 320 km/h this system is rated for at this axle load.
10At 330 km/h the line falls under EN 13,481 category D (high speed); a person should confirm the system approval for the project.
11Above 250 km/h (category D) the smallest curve radius must be at least 400 m; the quote has 300 m.
12At 280 km/h the line falls under EN 13,481 category D (high speed); a person should confirm the system approval for the project.
13At 350 km/h the line falls under EN 13,481 category D (high speed); a person should confirm the system approval for the project.
14An axle load of 27 t is above the 26 t this system is rated for.
15This system is not offered for wood sleepers in this model; wood sleepers are covered for System W 21 and W 40.
16Heavy-haul track in a desert environment normally takes wear protection against sand; a person should confirm the quote without an abrasion plate.
17The 115RE (AREMA) rail profile is covered only for System W 14 and W 40 in this model.
18The abrasion plate is a heavy-haul option; it cannot be quoted at an axle load of 22 t.
19The selected system is not used on this track type; ballasted track takes W 14, W 21, W 30, W 40 and KS 24, slab track takes System 300, DFF 200, DFF 300 and DFF 30 HH.
20Raising the rail by 80 mm is beyond the 76 mm this system can adjust.
21Lowering the rail by 5 mm is beyond the 4 mm this system allows.
22A gauge adjustment of 17 mm is beyond the 16 mm this system allows.
23A smallest curve radius of 250 m is below the 300 m minimum for this system at this axle load.
24Raising the rail by 31 mm is beyond the 30 mm this system can adjust.
25At 72 t axle load a person should review the project loading with engineering.
26A line speed of 90 km/h is above the 80 km/h this system is rated for at this axle load.
27At 60 t axle load a person should review the project loading with engineering.
28Raising the rail by 5 mm is beyond the 0 mm this system can adjust.
29For a coastal site a person should confirm the quote without the protect corrosion coating.
30300 fastening sets is below the 500-set lot size modeled here; a person should confirm the supply.
31The order needs at least one fastening set; the quote has 0.
320 fastening sets is below the 500-set lot size modeled here; a person should confirm the supply.
33The TPU rail pad is designed for heavy haul; a person should confirm it for an axle load of 22 t.
34Raising the rail by 21 mm is beyond the 20 mm this system can adjust.
35A gauge adjustment of 11 mm is beyond the 10 mm this system allows.
36At 33 t axle load a person should review the project loading with engineering.

Scenarios and results

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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

1. Wood sleepers, heavy load and speed: A System W 21 quote on wood sleepers at 28 t, 200 km/h, with an EPDM pad, 115RE profile and a 25 mm raise

The agent's request. Please quote 1,000 sets of System W 21 fastenings for ballasted track on wood sleepers, with 115RE rail profile, EPDM rail pad, a 28 t axle load, 200 km/h line speed, 500 m smallest curve radius, a 25 mm height raise, at a coastal site with protect coating. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Blocked.

  • Axle load above the system limit. An axle load of 28 t is above the 26 t this system is rated for.
  • Speed above the system limit. A line speed of 200 km/h is above the 160 km/h this system is rated for at this axle load.
  • Height adjustment above the system range. Raising the rail by 25 mm is beyond the 20 mm this system can adjust.
  • Rail profile not supported. The 115RE (AREMA) rail profile is covered only for System W 14 and W 40 in this model.
  • Heavy axle load needs a TPU rail pad. Above 26 t axle load the rail pad must be TPU; the quote has an EPDM pad at 28 t.

2. Wood sleepers, heavy load and speed: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote 1,000 sets of System W 40 fastenings for ballasted track on wood sleepers, with 115RE rail profile, TPU rail pad, a 28 t axle load, 100 km/h line speed, 500 m smallest curve radius, a 15 mm height raise, at a coastal site with protect coating. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Allowed.

  • Order summary. 1,000 fastening set(s) for an axle load of 28 t at 100 km/h.

3. High-speed slab track: A DFF 300 steel frame quote on slab track at 300 km/h with a 300 m curve and a 50 mm gauge adjustment

The agent's request. Please quote 1,500 sets of DFF 300 steel frame fastenings for slab track on concrete sleepers, with UIC 60 rail profile, EPDM rail pad, a 22 t axle load, 300 km/h line speed, 300 m smallest curve radius, a 40 mm height raise, a 50 mm gauge adjustment, at an inland site. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Blocked.

  • Curve radius below the system minimum. A smallest curve radius of 300 m is below the 400 m minimum for this system at this axle load.
  • High-speed lines need radius 400 m or more. Above 250 km/h (category D) the smallest curve radius must be at least 400 m; the quote has 300 m.
  • Gauge adjustment above the system range. A gauge adjustment of 50 mm is beyond the 46 mm this system allows.
  • Speed above 250 km/h. At 300 km/h the line falls under EN 13,481 category D (high speed); a person should confirm the system approval for the project.

4. High-speed slab track: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote 1,500 sets of DFF 300 steel frame fastenings for slab track on concrete sleepers, with UIC 60 rail profile, EPDM rail pad, a 22 t axle load, 240 km/h line speed, 500 m smallest curve radius, a 40 mm height raise, a 40 mm gauge adjustment, at an inland site. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Allowed.

  • Order summary. 1,500 fastening set(s) for an axle load of 22 t at 240 km/h.

5. Heavy haul on the right track type: A System W 14 quote on slab track for heavy haul with an EPDM pad and an abrasion plate

The agent's request. Please quote 1,000 sets of System W 14 fastenings for slab track on concrete sleepers, with UIC 60 rail profile, EPDM rail pad, a 30 t axle load, 100 km/h line speed, 500 m smallest curve radius, an abrasion plate, at a desert site. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Blocked.

  • System does not fit the track type. The selected system is not used on this track type; ballasted track takes W 14, W 21, W 30, W 40 and KS 24, slab track takes System 300, DFF 200, DFF 300 and DFF 30 HH.
  • Heavy axle load needs a TPU rail pad. Above 26 t axle load the rail pad must be TPU; the quote has an EPDM pad at 30 t.

6. Heavy haul on the right track type: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote 1,000 sets of System 300 fastenings for slab track on concrete sleepers, with UIC 60 rail profile, TPU rail pad, a 30 t axle load, 100 km/h line speed, 400 m smallest curve radius, an abrasion plate, at a desert site. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Allowed.

  • Order summary. 1,000 fastening set(s) for an axle load of 30 t at 100 km/h.

Narration transcript

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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a rail fastening quote for a track project: the fastening system, ballasted or slab track, sleeper, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the system rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it used.
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
  3. The agent says. Please quote 1,000 sets of System W 21 fastenings for ballasted track on wood sleepers, with 115RE rail profile, EPDM rail pad. It is ready to send. The rest of the request is on screen.
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
  5. Blocked, with five findings, all in one answer. An axle load of 28 t is above the 26 t this system is rated for. A line speed of 200 km/h is above the 160 km/h this system is rated for at this axle load. Raising the rail by 25 mm is beyond the 20 mm this system can adjust. The other two are on screen.
  6. The validator returned five blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
  7. What this shows: for limits that change with the axle load, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
  9. The corrected request. It changes the system to System W 40, the rail pad to TPU, the line speed to 100 km/h and the height raise to 15 mm.
  10. It calls the validator again.
  11. This time the validator clears it.
  12. All five earlier findings are cleared.
  13. Five problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.