DB and Vossloh cooperate on preventive rail maintenance
German rail technology company Vossloh and German rail infrastructure manager DB Netz are extending their collaboration in the realm of proactive rail maintenance, utilising Vossloh High Speed Grinding (HSG) technology.
Following a successful partnership in the current year, DB and Vossloh will continue their cooperation in the field of preventive rail maintenance in 2024, using Vossloh’s high-speed grinding (HSG) technology. This high-speed grinding technology helps prevent rail defects and extends the lifespan of rails. The scope of collaboration has been expanded by an additional 1,000 kilometres, reaching a minimum of 13,000 kilometres of the DB network.
The primary focus of this endeavour remains on the most heavily trafficked sections of the German rail network, known as the high-performance network. In addition to the physical grinding work, DB Netz has re-enlisted the use of advanced digital measurement and analysis technology. Condition data is collected and analysed in real-time, with relevant information presented in a web-based application, including specific recommendations for action. This serves as the foundation for transitioning from time-based to condition-based maintenance.
The unparalleled grinding process designed for proactive rail network maintenance allows for operating speeds exceeding 80 kilometers per hour on mainline tracks. This enables Vossloh machines to seamlessly integrate with freight traffic during nighttime operations, rendering line closures unnecessary. Moreover, the grinding program can be customised to address the specific condition of each track. Under the current contract, adjustments have been made to optimise the cross-sectional aspects of certain track sections.
Sustainability and capacity increase
“The importance of preventive and condition-based maintenance measures cannot be overstated. They are a crucial step toward higher track availability, which in turn is a mandatory prerequisite for shifting more traffic to rail and thus supporting the achievement of ambitious climate protection targets”, says Oliver Schuster, CEO of Vossloh.
Heike Junge-Latz, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Plant and Maintenance Management at DB Netz, adds: “We expect passenger and freight traffic volumes to continue to rise in the coming years, and we are constantly upgrading our network in response. The size of the German high-performance network will almost triple to over 9,200 kilometres by 2030. By means of prevention using HSG technology, for instance, we will further increase the reliability of our network.”
Interested in rail monitoring and preventive rail maintenance? Join the next edition of the Intelligent Rail Summit, which takes place in Warsaw, Poland on 6 & 7 November 2023.
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