Fossil free future for track work machinery ​

Current track work machinery is predominantly powered by diesel engines. According to the Institute of Railway Engineering and Transport Economy (TU Graz), track maintenance work on Austrian Federal Railways amounts to 9,600 t CO₂e per year (based on fuel consumption, machinery transport, material transport, and production). This indicates huge potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions by switching to alternative drives for track work machinery. It can also be assumed that track work machinery will be subject to more stringent regulations in the near future. The goal of the FFF study is to analyse different solutions arising from other modes of transport in order to assess their applicability to the railway sector and to track work machinery. This analysis considers market-specific aspects and risk factors. The FFF study recommends alternative solutions for different track work machinery based on the results of a market analysis and the outputs of a calculation tool.

The market analysis captures the technology trends of different drives in different modes of transport, with a special focus on the rail and construction sector. It evaluates the institutional landscape, such as regulations and the political incentives to be expected. As part of the project, TU Graz developed the tool CalCAS (Calculation of Comparison for Alternative Solutions) using operating data from different kinds of track work machinery.

Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Matthias Landgraf
TU Graz



Dipl.-Ing. BSc Martina Zeiner
TU Graz

Cross-industry analysis: a deep dive into the rail and construction sector

The barriers for the market uptake of alternative drives in the transport industry include the technology currently available, a lack of infrastructure, a lack of regulations or incentives, and higher costs due to scalability. The road sector – more specifically, the automotive sector – has proved to be the most mature industry in regard to alternative drives. Despite the lack of clear goals and little demand in the rail and construction sector, stakeholders are aware of the need to reduce environmental impacts. In combination with technological progress, this will lead to a further rise in alternative drives in both sectors.

Alternative drives for track work machinery are in their infancy. Research shows that the technological concepts for powertrains and transmissions used in the construction sector might be applicable to track work machinery. Regarding the primary power source, track work machinery is highly influenced by market trends in the rail sector. This is because implementing alternative solutions depends on the infrastructure for supplying energy (e.g. charging or refuelling).

In comparison to the rail sector, battery-only technology is much more established in the construction sector and limited to electric construction machinery with cables, handheld equipment, or smaller machines. By contrast, fuel cell technology is at a very early stage of development (with the exception of forklifts). Few models with alternative drives exist for track work machinery (six manufacturers could be identified). The solutions for track work machinery tend to be hybrid solutions (mainly diesel-battery) rather than stand-alone solutions; this is in line with trends in the rail sector as a whole. Smaller (lighter) track maintenance tools (e.g. portable tampers), which work on battery power only, are an exception to the above.

Machine-specific calculation tool for scenario-based key performance indicators

The outputs of CalCAS show that on-board battery technology is the preferred solution for track work machinery that requires less than 300 kWh of energy. By contrast, hydrogen fuel cell technology is suited to machinery that requires more than 800 kWh of energy. For machinery with energy requirements in between, either more advanced battery technology is needed due to weight issues, or the machinery should be equipped with fuel cell technology. Despite the benefits of alternative drives (such as fewer GHG emissions, less noise pollution, or higher efficiency), an alternative drive does not automatically equal fossil free nor emission free. Alternative liquid fuels have limited potential (high demand for primary energy, contradictory findings on emissions, concerns regarding synfuels, etc.). Battery and hydrogen applications depend on the electricity mix as well as on the production process and end-of-life of their components. Nonetheless, in terms of mitigating environmental impacts, they are considered to have a great deal of potential.

The findings of the FFF study help Plasser & Theurer assess both alternative drive technologies for track work machinery and the possibilities and risks they offer. The data provided by the study allow for a more effective assessment of future market developments, particularly in the railway and construction sector. Moreover, the calculation tool makes it possible to evaluate the fundamental requirements individual machine types have for alternative drives, and to integrate these requirements into strategic corporate decisions.

​Participation:
Dipl.-Ing. Bernhard Antony
Head of Technology Centre Purkersdorf, Plasser & Theurer

Dipl.-Ing. MSc Víctor Barrena Cárdenas
Plasser & Theurer​