The working life of five On Track Machines (OTMs) have been extended after undergoing major overhauls.
The machines are owned by Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail (IÉ) and operated and maintained by Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group in Ireland. However, major overhauls were needed on a number of machines and, after a competitive tender, Rhomberg Sersa won the contract in 2023.
Four of the machines were overhauled by RSRG specialists in Spremberg, Germany. “We worked very closely with the team in Spremberg and despite the Ukraine war delaying the delivery of the first machine, everything went smoothly,” said COO Robbie Mullen.
Each machine was taken apart, and the parts were either overhauled or replaced. Afterwards, each machine was put back together and repainted before being shipped back to Ireland for testing and commissioning.
The first machine to be overhauled was 742, followed by 743 and 751. The final tamper, 744, was successfully delivered back to Ireland in May of this year.
The fifth machine, which was also part of the overhaul contract, was ballast cleaner 781. Due to the nature of the machine and the work schedule it was required for, a decision was made to overhaul it in Ireland in stages.
Each winter it was taken out of service for three months, with different sections overhauled each time.
“These overhauls are hugely important as they extend the working life of the machines,” said Mullen.
“These machines are highly specialised, expensive and also essential for the continued smooth running of customer services, so having them in their best possible working condition is a win for everyone."
“As well as extending their working life, these overhauls also reduce the risk of a breakdown during an operational shift, which can have a knock-on effect on train services if the work is not carried out. Huge thanks to Olli Wittich, Tim Wellschmidt and Max Weise in Spremberg who made this collaboration such a success,” added Mullen.
