Infrastructure

Railway System

About the importance of our railway system

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Conventional lines

The managers of rail networks for mixed passenger, commuter and main-line services have to meet a multitude of requirements. Whether electrified or not, these networks are used by passenger trains during the day and by freight trains during the night, leaving hardly any time for maintenance. Our complete range of machines is grouped by types of work, performance classes, types of drive systems and maintenance strategies. It includes systems for rehabilitating larger sections as well as machines for rapid intervention and spot fault repair. Digital tools add to our machine offer.

Heavy haul

Axle loads of up to 45 tonnes and high transport volumes of up to 250 million load tonnes per year are an enormous burden on heavy haul lines. Alongside ballast attrition, major soiling by bulk freight falling overboard is an issue. At the same time, high demands are placed on availability and flexibility. That is why the world’s fastest ballast cleaning machines are used for heavy haul tracks. Assistance systems and digital tools add to the high level of automation already existing on remote lines today.

High speed

Traffic speeds of up to 350 km/h require perfect track geometry, making precision indispensable in track design. High speeds require large radii in curves and turnouts as well as high tensioning forces in overhead lines. Moreover, they may cause turbulence resulting in flying ballast. Taking this into account, machines must meet various requirements: careful material treatment, short set-up times, noise protection, assembly line technology, continuous action multi-sleeper tamping, dynamic stabilisation and accurate measuring technology referenced to fixed points. Maintenance works must take place in only a few hours a night, leaving behind tracks that are fully prepared for regular service.

Urban transport

Growing urbanisation results in growing transport networks composed of underground railways, trams and suburban commuter trains, which have a lot in common: low axle loads, commercial speeds of 50 to 80 km/h, tight clearance envelopes and obstacles such as power rails. As a rule, maintenance, cleaning and measurement work is carried out during off-service hours at night or even during service hours. Noise and exhaust gases are major issues – both in terms of emissions produced by work machines and those caused by the rails’ roughness in service. Apart from meeting these requirements, we offer uncomplicated transport solutions between networks.

Industrial railways

Harbours, container terminals, mines as well as large agricultural installations or company premises frequently use their own track systems for logistics and on-site transport. Self-sufficiency is a major advantage when it comes to maintenance, the main focus being on derailment safety. Spilled cargo may soil and block the track surface. Our compact and easy-to-use machines are universally applicable, reduce the number of staff required and save time. Our machines ensure that your own connecting railway is always ready for operation.

Line with steep gradients

The demands on conventional railways increase with altitude: steeper gradients, tighter radii and frequently reduced distances between centres of tracks. Tracks are exposed to major variations in temperature. Extreme weather conditions affect the infrastructure, requiring frequent rapid intervention, e.g. removing fallen trees or repairing damage to overhead lines. Work machines must do an extraordinary job under these circumstances. In order to ensure proper functioning irrespective of weather conditions, our machines’ equipment varies with local conditions and may include engines that function with less oxygen, pre-heating mechanisms, high tractive power, additional braking systems and snow removal technology.