A high-speed milling train took to our railway for the first time this week, providing quadruple the capacity to treat rail head defects.
The HSM-R-B rail milling train carried out its first shift, in Herne Bay, Kent, on 26 June. The train, which Network Rail is leasing for two years, replaces the Strabag SF-02 road-rail milling machine decommissioned in December.
It targets defects in the rail head by removing a layer of its metal. This leaves a clean running surface to profile, and improves safety and train dynamics. The result is smoother journeys, without the need to close the railway during track replacements.
高输出
The new train, built by Schweerbau, is a first for Network Rail, which has previously used road-rail vehicles for the job. The HSM-R-B has two milling heads per rail, per train, and is considerably larger than road-rail vehicles. It will be run as a duplex unit, providing capacity for four milling heads per rail. This means it can treat four times the amount of rail a road-rail vehicle could in one night. Its high speed refers to the amount it can mill – about 1.5km an hour.
Leevan Finney, director, fleet and engineering, Route Services at Network Rail, said: “Each train that runs on the network causes an element of wear and tear, and in some cases damage to our rails.
“自2002年以来，网络轨亚搏彩票软件官网道已经实施了频繁轨道研磨的过程，该过程从轨道表面中去除少量金属以保持轮廓 - 与火车轮接触的轨道的一部分。”
Each year, Network Rail grinds more than 5,000 miles of track and more than 3,000 switch units to remove defects and maintain a smooth rolling surface for trains. Passing trains and exposure to the elements can cause cracks; a severe crack not addressed in time can break the rail, leading to potential derailments.
Leevan said: “With milling we can get out to the site, treat the profile and go back to the base all in one shift. All metal removed from the rail will be returned and recycled, too.”
Increased safety
The train features an automated system for changing milling tools, improving safety by reducing the need for colleagues working trackside.
鲍勃金曼经理，主要舰队工程，路线服务，说：“与新的[租赁]铣车有关的比较，与大多数服务相比，分贝级别下降，这对铁路生活的人更好;它也更快，更清洁，并产生更少的浪费。
“我们始终考虑在新机器加入我们的舰队之前，看看最新标准，以确保其最低限度符合这些标准。”
Network Rail will use the machine until its new, owned milling train joins the Supply Chain Operations stable. This is in the design stage and will be made by Linsinger, due to join Network Rail’s fleet in 2020 or 2021. The new machine will build on lessons from the grinding train introduction, offering innovation for the network.