Press release

The railway of tomorrow needs an efficient infrastructure network. In the case of ÖBB, the goal is to double capacity in Austria by 2040. Maintenance also has to keep pace and needs new concepts to meet that goal. To that end, ÖBB and Plasser & Theurer presented the Plasser CatenaryCrafter 15.4 E³ – a representative of a new green fleet of 56 maintenance vehicles – at InnoTrans on 24 September 2024.

In times of extreme weather conditions, immediate fault rectification is particularly important. In addition to old lines – such as the Semmering mountain pass, with tight curve radii as well as many bridges and viaducts – it is also necessary to manage new lines and tunnel lengths that were previously unthinkable.

Generational change for more sustainability and efficiency

The new high-tech hybrid vehicles with electric propulsion are replacing diesel-powered predecessors that are being retired after 40 years of reliable service. ÖBB and Plasser & Theurer have had a partnership pertaining to track construction and maintenance vehicles for decades. Once again, however, the Austrian manufacturer was able to score points for its pioneering role in alternative propulsion systems. Track maintenance machines with the abbreviation “E³”, which refers to the hybrid drivetrain, have been around for ten years. E³ products have also been exhibited several times at InnoTrans. In 2022, Andreas Matthä and Johannes Max-Theurer presented the new green fleet before videos and a model. Today, the Plasser
CatenaryCrafter 15.4 E³ appears on the InnoTrans outdoor track. As a zero-emission, high-performance maintenance vehicle, it runs at 120 km/h to the construction site using electricity from the overhead contact line. Once it’s there, it works with electricity from batteries, as the overhead line has to be deactivated during installation or maintenance.

After extensive test drives as part of the authorization process and initial trial work, employees are impressed by the particularly quiet propulsion technology. Those living in surrounding areas will also be grateful.

Modular design lowers training and maintenance costs

ÖBB currently uses 12 different vehicle types. The new fleet will be reduced to three vehicles plus an additional driving trailer. Types 1 and 2 on display are both Plasser CatenaryCrafters, optimized for overhead line installation and maintenance. Another version is the Plasser MultiCrafter for general work on the superstructure. All three types are identical in their basic structure. This can reduce the costs of maintenance and spare parts. It also facilitates training for ÖBB teams. A “train the trainer” programme was initially launched to that end for the ÖBB instructors, who then went on to train the drivers.

In this sense, the new tools on Austria's railway tracks not only offer a green solution, but also a future-proof working environment.