today 143
today 143
Plasser & Theurer retrofits are winning over more and more customers. In 2023, the Estonian track maintenance company GoTrack also decided to have a Unimat 08-275 built in 1985 completely refurbished and modernized. At iaf 2025 in Münster, the machine will be part of our outdoor exhibit.
GoTrack is one of the largest railway infrastructure companies in Estonia. Founded in 2005, it has already successfully completed several different projects: laying new rails, maintaining existing tracks, designing and building train protection systems, overhead contact lines, and level crossings. The dynamic, conscientious team has been relying on machines from Linz for a long time. Until now, GoTrack only purchased used machines, mostly in Finland, and maintained them in their own workshops. The necessary spare parts were usually purchased directly from Plasser & Theurer. Over the years, this has developed into a successful partnership.
GoTrack is one of the largest private track maintenance companies in the Baltic region. Our main markets are primarily in Estonia and Finland, where the 1,520 mm and 1,524 mm track gauges are used. We have been using Plasser & Theurer machines for more than 15 years. Over the years, we have built up a fleet of five Plasser & Theurer machines, including lining, tamping, and ballast profiling machines. When making investment decisions, it is important for us to take costs, delivery times, and environmental aspects into account.
Based on these considerations, we decided not to buy a new Unimat tamping machine, but to have an existing machine refurbished and modernized so that it is fully operational again. We have planned to commission the modernized machine in 2025. The machine will be retrofitted so that in future it can easily be used on different track gauges."
Kalvi Pukka
CEO of GoTrack
Overhauling a 40-year-old machine yourself?
In 2021, we received an enquiry for spare parts as part of the major refurbishment of a Unimat 08-275 built in 1985. GoTrack wanted to have the work carried out by its own staff on-site as usual. However, the enquiry turned into a conversation about the options we could offer as part of this type of refurbishment. The topic of retrofitting – i.e. refurbishment including modernization – came up. And it wasn't long before the experts at GoTrack realized that the advantages clearly outweighed the disadvantages. What were the decisive factors?
During the conversation, it quickly became clear that we have unique expertise as the manufacturer. We know what measures are possible for these types of machines built back then, and we know what is feasible to implement. With the Life Cycle Services Competence Centre in Linz, we also have the infrastructure for carrying out major projects like this efficiently, as we have direct access to our design division’s expertise. Above all, however, we can offer the certainty that the machine's authorization will remain valid after refurbishment. This is a point that is of crucial importance now that the EU's Fourth Railway Package has come into force. Failure to comply with its provisions means it can take a very long time before a machine is allowed back on track. We were also able to offer GoTrack support with the authorization process for Finland.
Complete refurbishment and installation of modern components
After the contract was signed, the Unimat 08-275 was completely disassembled at GoTrack in Estonia in July 2024. Then it was delivered to Linz at the end of the month. All that remained of the original machine was the machine frame, the diesel tank, the hydraulic tank, and the three cabs.
The list of components installed was long:
Official handover as part of iaf 2025
Despite the enormous scope of the project, work on the GoTrack machine was completed in time for iaf 2025 in Münster. This is where the official handover to our GoTrack partners takes place. After just under one year, they receive a completely refurbished and modernized machine at an economically attractive price. Following iaf, the GoTrack machine crew will come to Linz for ten days of training, followed by another ten days of training in Estonia, where maintenance staff will also be involved. After that, the Unimat 08-275 is ready to operate for many more years.
