Deutsche Bahn Netz, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn (DB), has switched to a new tamping surveying solution from Amberg Technologies, supporting maintenance measures of automated tamping of tracks and points. Primary reasons for the move were the better performance and improved quality of survey data provided by the Amberg rail tamping surveying solution: the cost of tamping surveying can be reduced by 40% to 70%.
“We sought for an innovative tamping surveying solution and found it in Amberg’s system. Not only servicing costs have been reduced, we also anticipate benefits in terms of a competitive edge,” says Thomas Behn, machine pool general superintendent of DB Netz.
Amberg Technologies delivered the systems, which have been especially adapted to DB’s requirements, at the InnoTrans, the international trade fair for transportation technology, in Berlin, in September this year.
Additional services and individual adaptations
According to DB Netz, another reason for the decision in favour of the Amberg rail tamping surveying solution was that Amberg Technologies provides its users with intensive training and project monitoring.
“We were impressed with the efficient implementation. The original Amberg rail tamping surveying solution was configured to the special requirements of the DB Netz profile within just three months. The new tamping surveying system is highly flexible: it works quickly and efficiently on two easily transportable track surveying trolleys and can be easily operated by two people,” concludes Thomas Behn.
Cost-efficient track maintenance, optimised track position
“Track installers can carry out cost-efficient maintenance measures using the new tamping surveying solution and improve the track quality. This enables them to make an important contribution to the operator’s efficient track maintenance,” explains Heiko Barthold, product manager rail at Amberg Technologies. “The impulse for the product development has come from the German market.”
Innovation for the tamping surveying process
With the extended tamping surveying solution, Amberg Technologies establishes a new surveying process based on the long-chord method. The millimetre-precision surveying results allow detection of long-wave track irregularities on-the-spot. The surveying method complies with the requirements of the DB guideline. The resulting correction values are submitted directly to the tamping machine. What’s special about the new tamping surveying system is that in profile mode (during track surveying) it can record the results of lateral offset measurements. Examples are platform edges, the distance to the neighbouring track or the position of the overhead wire.
Cost-efficiency thanks to operational flexibility and best surveying performance
The new tamping surveying solution is based on the tried-and-tested GRP system FX surveying platform and usually uses two practical, flexible and easy-to-use surveying trolleys. Besides integrated sensors for superelevation and gauge measurements, a precision tachymeter ensures continuous recording of the track position in a single survey run. This results in surveying capacities of more than 1,200m/hr, meaning that the new tamping surveying solution is three to five times faster than traditional visualisation methods.