Innovation for a modern infrastructure

For some years now, Poland has been investing massively in its infrastructure. For the new construction and especially maintenance of new high-speed lines as well as their secondary connections, several machines by Plasser & Theurer have been delivered to contractors of the Polish state railway, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA (PKP PLK), since 2019. PKP PLK manages most of the Polish railway network and railway property. We last reported on this in issue 138. Since then, a great deal has happened, and the existing fleets have been expanded even further.

Some Plasser & Theurer innovations, such as Plasser InertialTrackGeometry (an IMU), are a standard requirement of the national railway. The Central Eastern European republic is the second country where these technologies are used and the first one where they are used throughout. Thus, Poland has one of the most progressive and far-sighted infrastructure managers internationally.

Time savings and compact design thanks to an IMU trolley

For quality assurance purposes after maintenance has been carried out, it is necessary to record key track parameters and analyse them. With the inertial measuring technology, the railway and its subsidiaries are the only Polish companies to have a tool that can be perfectly integrated, allowing post- and pre-measuring at up to 60 km/h to be performed efficiently in the wavelength ranges D1 (3 - 25 m) and D2 (25 - 70 m) – and that with extremely high accuracy (according to the EN 13848-3 standard). This allows PKP PLK to make optimum use of track possessions. Thanks to the compact design of the IMU measuring technology on a two-axle trolley, and with a steel recording measuring chord no longer being required, a trailer is no longer needed to ensure complete post-measuring of the track geometry. This allows for a compact design of the tamping machines which particularly pays off on secondary lines with tight radii.

Enduring track geometry with sufficient ballast filling

The aim of every tamping process is optimum ballast filling and compaction below the sleeper, which forms the basis of a precise, long-lasting track geometry. The Polish state railways received a monitoring system which Plasser & Theurer supplied with a new sensor technology for the Plasser TampingControl. The sensors are used to record the tamping unit measuring values and analyse them in real time. Based on this data, the ballast filling quality is determined so that operators can optimize working parameters if the supply of ballast is insufficient.

This way, PKP PLK ensures a reliable, durable sleeper bed and a lasting track geometry.

First Plasser BallastExpress L for Poland – ballast management system reduces transport distances

TRAKO trade fair visitors will be shown the Plasser BallastExpress L (BDS 2000) owned by ZRK-DOM, which will be delivered on schedule later this year. The ballast management system for tracks and turnouts makes ballast management particularly efficient. It is optimally adapted to the output of high-capacity tamping machines and, in particular, its sustainable and economic benefits as a “ballast saving machine” are impressive.

With the use of the integrated InfraScan measuring system, ZRK-DOM determines if there is too much or too little ballast on a section of track. Operation planning can already commence during the pre-measuring run. Manual checks are no longer needed. InfraScan identifies how much ballast lies where. After measuring, the ballast can be picked up in the immediate vicinity as required instead of having to transport new ballast over large distances. This also reduces CO₂ emissions.

Material conveyor and hopper units (MFS) increase sustainability even further. Reducing the transport distances due to less new ballast being required also provides expanded ballast storage facilities. The Plasser BallastExpress L can be split and can be expanded with MFS. This particular configuration consists of three MFS 120 SC with a capacity of 68 m³ each.

Looking ahead

Poland also demonstrates its willingness to innovate with the Plasser FormationLiner 1000, the formation rehabilitation machine with integrated ballast reconditioning for tracks. As part of a research project, it has features that no other machine of this type has had so far.

Apart from the Plasser FormationLiner 1000, a Plasser CatenaryLiner 300 catenary renewal machine, and a Plasser ScreenLiner 3100 ballast cleaning machine will be delivered to Poland by 2025. Furthermore, maintenance contracts are currently being drawn up as well. This clearly shows that Plasser & Theurer and Plasser Polska are making a significant contribution to modern Polish infrastructure.