Here’s How Hitachi Is Helping Improve Railway Maintenance Around the World
As the world comes out of the worst days of the COVID-19 crisis, the need to keep our transport networks flowing freely is going to be a key consideration.
With long journeys for both work and leisure now recommencing, travelers are going to expect those brands responsible for getting them from A to B to have taken all the steps necessary to make sure both the vehicles they are riding in and the surface on which those vehicles travel to be kept in working order.
It is this need which has led global manufacturing and maintenance company, Hitachi to sign new deals and digitize existing operations in an effort to make sure those people choosing rail for their travel needs arrive safely at their destination in a timely manner.
Hitachi
The first of these innovative movements takes us all the way to Sweden and its rail maintenance company, Infranord.
Hitachi has recently signed a contract to install new digital signaling technologies on board two of the Swedish rail service company’s yellow maintenance trains which the company claims will assist Infranord to better maintain rail infrastructure across the region.
The yellow maintenance trains, referred to locally as "Tb locos," are regularly deployed to maintain the Swedish rail network and are specially designed to carry out this role, regardless of the often-challenging winter weather conditions the country experiences, safely and reliably. Hitachi Rail will design, build, install, test and commission the new advanced on-board signaling system based on ERTMS* technology (European Railway Transport System) and STM-ATC2** (system to circulate on conventional lines).
These technologies are commonly deployed on passenger and freight trains and Hitachi taking the step to install them on maintenance trains represents an innovative leap forwards for the two companies involved.
"We are delighted to be supporting Infranord in the transition towards digitization of its yellow maintenance trains in Scandinavia, with our on-board signaling systems," said VP Nordics Hitachi Rail, Eric Morand in a press release. "These technologies are more commonly used on passenger and freight rolling stock; using the technology on maintenance trains represents an innovative step for both Infranord and Hitachi Rail. This new partnership is a real opportunity for Hitachi Rail to support Infranord with higher standards of quality, safety, and reliability for their customers in the region."
Railway Maintenance
For the second part of our journey with Hitachi, we head to warmer climes and discover how ILSA – Spain’s leading private high-speed rail operator – has awarded Hitachi Rail España with the maintenance of its fleet, comprising 20 new ETR 1000 trains, through a €737 million contract that will cover a 30-year period, until 2052.
The fleet of brand-new trains is being lauded as the fasted, quietest, and most sustainable rolling stock of their kind in the whole of Europe and will be serviced by a specially trained force of 75 recently hired field service engineers in the city of Madrid, Spain.
ILSA will begin its operations in the second half of 2022, and will connect Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga, and Cordoba with unmatched operating efficiency thanks to state-of-the-art aerodynamics, the use of energy-saving technologies, and high performance. The fleet is constructed from 85 per cent recyclable materials and 95 per cent renewable materials. These eco-design principles contribute to ILSA’s commitment to have the most sustainable fleet on the continent and will simultaneously contribute towards Hitachi’s own mission to dramatically reduce its carbon emissions for customers.
"The respect for the environment and the principles of sustainability are shared values between both companies and, without a doubt, have been a decisive factor in becoming strategic partners both for the manufacture and the maintenance of our fleet, with which the Spanish high-speed rail network will take a step forward in terms of innovation, sustainability and multimodality from the second half of 2022 onwards, once we start our operations," said CEO of ISLA, Simone Gorini.
"This contract confirms the presence and the commitment of Hitachi Rail in the Spanish railway market," added CEO of Hitachi Rail España, Roberto Vitali. "Spain is an important country for our Operation Service & Maintenance business: in addition to this Full-Service contract for the ETR 1000 fleet, we have the contract for the maintenance of 53 metros in service on the Madrid metro network and for the maintenance of the high-speed line infrastructure from Madrid to Lerida."
Final Thoughts
As a truly global brand, it’s fascinating to see Hitachi spread out across the globe and take on the responsibility of maintaining the world’s transport networks in this way.
With a firm focus on digitization and sustainability, these new partnership in Sweden and Spain respectively are sure to help Hitachi become an ever more prolific force in the world of field service operators.
You can hear Hitachi Direct Manager for Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. Mike Dixon speak at Field Service Hilton Head 2022, taking place in August at the Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa, SC.
Download the agenda today for more information and insights.