RELIABILITY

Yarra Trams, the operator of the tram network in Melbourne, Australia, operates a fleet of Combino trams which require regular maintenance and overhauls to ensure their continued safe and reliable operation. The brakes are a critical component of these trams and require specialized knowledge and expertise for their overhaul. This case study describes the successful completion of the 16-year overhaul of the Combino brake units by IMTRAM, the authorized service center for H&K and Secheron.

One Rail are the market leader for intermodal services on the Adelaide to Darwin corridor, servicing Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine & Darwin. With over 3,700km of owned/leased track and 55,000,00 tonnes of freight annually, it is vital the track is maintained and lubricated effectively over some of Australia’s harshest conditions. RS Clare’s Claretech Ecocurve Heavy Haul has been in use in 16 of their lubricators from Alice Springs to Darwin for over 2 years covering 2,250km of track.

In 2020 Yarra Trams was required to upgrade some obsolete components of their Combino BCUs. Some parts were no longer available and IMTRAM provided a solution with partner Hanning & Kahl to upgrade some components in the BCUs as opposed to replacing them completely. This saved costs as well as materials as only some components were required to be replaced to make the BCUs future proof.

With annual service reviews revealing battery failures and facing ongoing starting issues, the railroad was a perfect candidate for the trial. Battery life and starting reliability issues can result in huge costs for railroads, not to mention the time it takes to send people and equipment to diagnose and jump start a locomotive. It’s not a pleasant or safe environment for railroad workers. Now with the installation of ZTR's KickStart, those issues are no longer a worry, not to mention the environmental benefits of extending battery life.