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Plant and equipment showcase

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The Plant and Equipment market is constantly changing. New kit is being introduced to be more efficient, more versatile, or even more specialist, than that which it replaces.

New controls and safety procedures are also being introduced. With another runaway having occurred recently, this one a MEWP that made off downhill through a tunnel and ended up in a station platform, we can expect more tightening of those in the future.

With the sheer variety of equipment, from large items of plant with interchangeable accessories to simple hand-held tools, and everything in between, it can be difficult to keep on top of it all.

Network Rail is continuously being requested to approve new machines and tools. Some of the latest are shown in ‘Latest Technology’ elsewhere in this issue of The Rail Engineer.

More new equipment is included in this section which looks at the latest or most popular offerings from various suppliers as well as the services which they provide.

A number of these entries will also be appearing at the recently announced National Track Plant Exhibition, being held by Network Rail at Long Marston, near Stratford-upon-Avon, on 24 and 25 July. Make sure that you are there!

Solutions designed and installed

Allan J Hargreaves Plant Engineers will be celebrating its 30th year of business this year. Operating from a modern industrial unit in

Lancashire with recently expanded workshop facilities and a team of 21 employees, extensive in-house facilities allow the company to carry out dynamic stability testing, brake testing, accident investigation work, insurance assessments, machining and fabrication.

Specialising in designing and supply of bespoke engineering solutions to meet the demands of an ever changing rail industry, Allan J Hargreaves recently completed a major project for Network Rail, having designed and installed a direct rail wheel braking system for over 300 RRVs. This is just one example of 3D system design tailored to specific customers’ requirements that can be carried through to manufacture and installation covering FEA and FMEA to find solutions that meet specification and budget.

AJH Plant has been working with Network Rail to develop a cost effective solution to working Adjacent Line Open to traffic and is now able to offer a system that meets the latest remit MLD- 003. It has also been upgrading RRVs to meet the latest requirements of RIS-1530-PLTiss4, with various levels of service from RCI upgrades to complete overhaul which could include re-spray, VAB approval, RCI calibration, new / re-profile rail wheels and maintenance plans.

Allan J Hargreaves P1000224 [online]

No longer a stranger to the British market

Dual Inventive is no longer a stranger to the British market, thanks to the ZKL 3000. In addition to Network Rail, many others have come to know the company which is currently doing business with Babcock Rail, Amey Colas, Tes 2000 and Rail Safety Solutions.

Dual Inventive ́s ZKL 3000 is a Track Circuit Operating Device. It can be installed in just a few seconds and the railway worker doesn’t need to get into a kneeling position. The ZKL 3000 is installed whilst the worker stands upright, pushing the ZKL 3000 into the track with his foot. A green LED light will begin to flash, indicating the short circuit has been created.

MTinfo 3000 is a web based management information system that synchronises data from the ZKL 3000 series to a server. The data on the server is arranged and can be retrieved by authorised users via a web interface using a PDA, mobile phone or computer. MTinfo 3000 provides authorised users access to the available data on the server, such as real-time status of ZKL 3000 on Google Maps, status of the power supply and a report per product.

Specialists in Rated Capacity Indication

GKD Technik leads the way in load control with the 3RCI system, the world’s most popular retrofit rated capacity indicator for road rail applications. Road rail vehicles fitted with the 3RCI load control system outperform conventional machines with sector based slew.

Road rail vehicles (RRVs) are enabled to work to their maximum capacity with the number one electronic safety system for the rail market which features full motion cut-off of all booms plus slew on overload, full data logging of all functions and a telemetry unit which includes GPS, GRPS and WiFi modules and allows local communication between machines and controllers.

With pressures on maintenance and renewals operations to complete works in shorter timescales or without line closure, the SpaceGuard advanced rated capacity indicator provides the solution.

SpaceGuard increases productivity by enabling the machine to be able to operate at all times even under live overhead wires (OLE) or next to open traffic lines (ALO). It is currently the only electronic safety system in use on the rail complying with UK requirements for live overhead wires and open traffic lines.

SpaceGuard provides extra benefits for road-rail applications, including full software control over the limits. It is approved for use under live overhead wires and next to live rails and allows overnight working without full line closure resulting in reduced costs for the rail operator and maximum utilisation for the owner.

Hall Fuels is the only fuel distributor in the UK that works solely with commercial customers and has a particular focus as a fuel supply partner
for infrastructure and maintenance projects. It is accredited with Achilles Link-up and has also achieved the TFL FORS Gold accreditation for work in London, which has included working closely with and supplying the Crossrail project. All drivers at Hall Fuels are Crossrail trained and the company has worked closely with the project to help develop the delivery vehicle safety equipment list.

Hall Fuels WATSON-6846 [online]

Onsite fuel solutions provider

Hall Fuels provides comprehensive method statements and has extensive experience in delivering fuel to rail depots and locomotives. Deliveries can be made in load sizes from 500 to 36,000 litres and can utilise vehicles that are able to work with restricted access. Hall Fuels will work with suppliers to provide time specific deliveries to keep a project on time and is happy to provide training for the safe delivery of fuel to rail operatives in live locations.

Scaffolding and access solutions

Harsco Infrastructure’s range of support, scaffolding and access solutions is perfectly demonstrated by a project to create a new underground rail tunnel in the Netherlands.

Due for completion in 2015, the new 2.3 km long, 4-track rail tunnel will replace an existing double track viaduct in the city of Delft. Harsco is supplying and installing a variety of support structures for the creation of concrete slabs which are now being used to construct the tunnel using the ‘wall-roof method’. This process sees the tunnel walls and ceiling slabs constructed at an early stage, after which the earth between the walls is removed to create the tunnel itself.

Harsco is also providing scaffolding towers and stairs which allow access to different parts of the site, as well as 92,000m3 of GASS shoring and 19,200m2 of formwork lining for the project. A full system of guard railings on the working deck are also being used to ensure maximum safety.

RailEngineer
RailEngineerhttp://therailengineer.com
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