The Munich subway network is a little over 100 kilometers; the first line went into operation more than 50 years ago. More than 400 million passengers are carried every year. But what they don’t usually notice is the work behind the scenes: numerous technicians are out and about underground, especially at night, to keep the railways, tunnels and train stations in good shape. From 2024 onwards, employees will be provided with new vehicles for this purpose. The Munich transport company (MVG) has ordered six special machines for construction work in the tunnel from the company Robel Bahnbaumaschinen in Freilassing, right on the border with Austria.
The so-called track motor vehicles (plus eight trailers) are to be delivered to MVG in 2024 and 2025, provided everything goes well. According to the local transport company, they are “the prerequisite for continued trouble-free operation of the subway network in the future.” Because the need for renewal and maintenance of the Munich subway lines has increased significantly due to age. In addition, the need for construction vehicles will increase in the future due to the planned expansion of the network.
There is a loading crane at each end.
(Photo: Robel Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH)
According to MVG and Robel, the vehicles, each 20 meters long, have a hybrid drive in order to keep emissions as low as possible when working in the tunnel. They can be driven to the construction site using pantographs. On construction sites, where the current is usually switched off in the conductor rails running alongside the tracks, a battery provides the necessary energy. The built-in diesel generator only has to be used in exceptional cases and on construction sites that extend over a longer period of time – as is the case with conventional rail vehicles.
In addition, the six vehicles will each have a loading crane on both vehicle fronts. This enables more flexible working in subway networks without the possibility to turn – like the one in Munich. Behind each of them there are smaller loading areas, for example for material, in the middle there is a cabin for the technical team. The track vehicles are mainly used to transport tools, spare parts, rails and other construction equipment into the subway tunnels.
Should an underground train ever break down in the tunnel, the new rail vehicles can be used to tow it – if necessary also in double or triple traction, so that two or even three vehicles can be coupled one behind the other. These are then controlled synchronously from one of the driver’s cabs.