The invention relates to a method for the maintenance of rolling stock, said rolling stock including at least one car having at least one system which in turn includes at least one device. The at least one car, system and device are maintained over maintenance periods established according to a maintenance routine. Said maintenance periods can be altered, with at least one operating parameter for each car, system and device first being obtained. Once the aforementioned operating parameters have been obtained, it is possible to predict the number of hours or kilometres remaining until the next breakdown of the car, system and device according to said parameters. This information can be used to decide whether to alter the maintenance periods, taking account of the number of hours or kilometres until the next breakdown.