UK: Network Rail to buy electrification factory train

[John Ashworth]

Network Rail places order for £35m electrification train

5 December 2011
The Engineer

Network Rail has placed an order worth £35m for a train designed to assist the Great Western main-line electrification project.

According to Network Rail, the 23-vehicle train will provide a complete electrification service as it moves along sections of track, completing foundations and stanchions to installing and testing the overhead line equipment (OLE).

The system has been under development for the last three years and will make its railway debut on the Great Western main line in autumn 2013.

The High Output Plant System, also known as a factory train, will work overnight, electrifying an average of 1.6km of track per night.

Windhoff Bahn- und Anlagentechnik, a supplier of specialist rail maintenance and improvement equipment, will custom build the train to a design that meets the performance specification developed by Network Rail engineers.

Simon Kirby, Network Rail’s managing director for investment projects, said: ‘Electrification provides a faster, more reliable, greener and economic railway and is a key part of our plans to improve the network.

‘The electrification train is an innovative piece of equipment that will deliver benefits to millions of passengers across the country.’

[John Ashworth]

Windhoff to build Network Rail's electrification factory train

Railway Gazette 05 December 2011

UK: Network Rail has signed a contract for Windhoff Bahn- und Anlagentechnik to build a £35m custom-designed 'factory train' which will enable the rapid installation of overhead electrification.

Announcing the contract on December 2, The infrastructure manager said the 23-vehicle High Output Plant System 'will revolutionise how railway lines are electrified'. The train will complete foundations and stanchions and install and test the overhead line equipment as it moves. It is expected to be able to electrify an average of 1·6 km of track per night, a 'significantly higher rate' than previously achievable, while allowing adjacent tracks to remain open. NR expects this to reduce construction times, disruption and cost.

German maintenance vehicle specialist Windhoff will build the vehicles to a specification which NR has developed over the last three years. The first deployment will be on the Great Western Main Line electrification project, which is due to get underway from late 2013.

[John Ashworth]

Network Rail electrification train to transform railway improvements

06/12/11
Breaking Travel News

The 23-vehicle train will provide a complete electrification service as it moves along sections of track, completing everything from foundations and stanchions to installing and testing the overhead line equipment (OLE).

The system has been under development for the last three years and will make its railway debut on the Great Western main line electrification project in autumn 2013. More than £750m will be invested in the route, the largest amount since it was built, which will provide a more reliable service with more seats and better station facilities for passengers.

The High Output Plant System, also known as a factory train, will work overnight and allows for the adjacent line to remain open, minimising disruption to passengers.

It will be able to electrify an average of 1.6km of track per night which is a significantly higher rate of construction than previously achievable. This will dramatically reduce the amount of time needed to complete construction, again reducing disruption and cost.

Costing around £35m, the train is part of the continued investment by Network Rail to deliver a better, safer and more reliable railway. Windhoff Bahn- und Anlagentechnik GmbH, a supplier of specialist rail maintenance and improvement equipment, will custom build the train to a design that meets the performance specification developed by Network Rail engineers.