ÖBB orders 50 new maintenance vehicles

source: OBB

ÖBB Infrastructure is renewing its fleet with low-emission maintenance vehicles from Plasser & Theurer. 50 modern 4-axle electric tower cars and track wagons are being procured. The first vehicles will be deployed in 2023 on the new high-speed Koralmbahn that is under construction.

ÖBB is investing almost 248 million euros in the new maintenance vehicles. The new vehicles will be used for inspection and maintenance tasks, and  will also assist on assembly projects in the future. The vehicles are equipped with an innovative electric hybrid drive and six control cars for existing and future new lines, such as the Semmering-Base tunnel and the Koralmbahn.

The contract for the production of the vehicles was awarded in the course of a Europe-wide tender by Plasser & Theurer. It is optional for ÖBB to order a further 46 high-performance maintenance vehicles. All he vehicles are built with the ability to fit ETCS.

Vehicle types

The Austrian manufacturere will deliver four different types of vehicle. They are all capable of 120 kilometres per hour. The first two vehicles, ETW 1.0 and ETW 2.0 (ElektroTurmWagen), are to be fitted with cranes, work platforms, and pushers to manipulate the overhead line catenary and measuring systems. The third type, called EOBW 1.0 (Electric OberbauBahnWagen), has a hydraulic crane for the heaviest track infrastructure duties. It can also be deployed for work such as clearing snow in combination with other vehicles. These first three can all, for the first time, switch between using either overhead wires for power, a battery set for rail applications, or a diesel-electric power pack.

The last vehicle type is the control car, STW 1.0, which can be driven from the other vehicles. It has a large loading platform and is designed in a modular way so that many types of equipment can be carried.

Modernising the fleet

“With this unique procurement project, vehicles that are around 30 years old are being replaced by modern, high-performance maintenance vehicles”, says Franz Bauer, the responsible director of the ÖBB Infrastructure.”We are thus taking an important step towards the high-performance, future-oriented, ecological and efficient provision of our rail infrastructure”.

image: ÖBB
An look at a ETW maintenance vehicle, part of the E3 line (Economic – Ecologic – Ergonomic), image: ÖBB

Johannes Max-Theurer, CEO of Plasser & Theurer: “We are very happy about the order from ÖBB and see this as a further milestone in the decades of cooperation for the success of the rail system in Austria and worldwide. With our products, we not only support economical route maintenance, but also the sustainable achievement of the climate goals of the rail transport system with innovative, ecological drive and work technology.”

Last month, Austrian Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and the Upper Austrian Climate Councillor Stefan Kaineder visited Plasser & Theurer. “The Austrian railway industry is among the absolute leaders worldwide”, said the Minister. “We have many innovative companies that export climate protection worldwide with their technology and thus also create secure jobs for the future in Austria. This approach is what we saw at Plasser & Theurer. It is impressive what is achieved here – and this spirit of innovation is also needed. This benefits the region and our climate.”

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Author: Esther Geerts

Former Editor RailTech.com

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