With the growing need for mobility, especially in metropolitan areas, turnouts for trams are increasingly in demand. How does voestalpine Railway Systems support operators with its complete systems in meeting current and future challenges? Thomas Christ, Senior Vice President – Head of Business Center Tram at voestalpine Turnout Technology Germany in Gotha, Germany, provides a comprehensive overview.
We at voestalpine Railway Systems have long been a proven manufacturer of rails and turnouts. We have continuously expanded our portfolio of both products and services so that we now offer all physical components. Combining all these components into a system in the smartest possible way and coordinating the products was both the logical conclusion and a challenge. The digitalization of our turnouts in conjunction with zentrak information management helps us to round off the overall system.
Transport companies are constantly faced with new challenges. We are seeing the beginnings of a change in which the technology and management behind turnouts from self-organization is also being carried out to a certain extent. Smart overall solutions will therefore become increasingly interesting, especially in view of the shortage of skilled workers. The turnout learns to speak digitally and helps to relieve the burden on employees. If a problem occurs at a turnout, technicians can be dispatched to the specific location without first having to search for clues by conducting time-consuming track inspections. Digitalized turnouts enable us to deliver tangible and rapid benefits to our customers.
Trams are usually designed individually by the respective city. This results in a wide variety of approaches and requirements, which we reflect in the high degree of customization of our overall systems. Especially in inner-city areas, installation must be optimal and quick in order to minimize the overall impact on the infrastructure. From a technical point of view, it is important to note that the smaller dimensions and confined space conditions are associated with specific geometry-related wear and tear. Nevertheless, the turnout should remain in the track for as long as possible and be easy to maintain. We therefore use materials optimized for local transport, which, unlike those used for mainline railways, combine high wear resistance with repairability by welding.
Currently, operators are focusing on maintaining their infrastructure in the best possible way and expanding it where necessary. In addition to the proven qualities of just-in-time delivery and an attractive price-performance ratio, there is therefore a growing trend toward intelligent turnouts. We want to shape this trend together with our customers and accompany them on their journey into the digital world.
Maintenance is essential for optimizing the service life of turnouts. Wear and tear can render turnouts inoperable over time. They must therefore be inspected regularly to identify problems in good time. Predictive maintenance ensures early detection, thereby avoiding time-consuming and costly extensive service measures. Digital solutions provide load-dependent data generation that registers the first signs of potential damage. With the right sensors in the right places, the intelligent tram turnout paves the way from event-driven to scheduled preventive maintenance.
It is important to us to work together with our customers. Customer-oriented development is a high priority for us and is one of the core competencies of voestalpine Railway Systems. We develop customized solutions and systems that are precisely tailored to the requirements and challenges of our customers. To this end, we build prototypes and operate them together with our customers in a joint R&D project. This results in close and meaningful customer contact, enabling us to develop customer-oriented solutions in targeted discussions.
Thomas Christ is Senior Vice President – Head of Business Center Tram at voestalpine Turnout Technology Germany in Gotha, Germany, and our system expert in the tram area. He is a third-generation member of the railway industry and has more than 40 years of experience in the sector. The fascinating technology behind the scenes and the scope for innovation shape his passion for rail-based mobility.