Liebherr RE 22 M Railroad Excavator Debut

At the InnoTrans exhibition held in Berlin, Germany, from September 22 to 25, 2026, Liebherr presented the RE 22 M Litronic railroad excavator. This model introduces the company into the 22 to 25.7-tonne operating weight class, succeeding the A 922 Rail and A 924 Rail models for heavy-duty track construction and maintenance.

Dual Drive Systems and Undercarriage Mechanics
The machine features a patent-pending rail undercarriage that supports dual operational modes. Using its hydrostatic rail-wheel drive system, the excavator can travel with the undercarriage lowered and the boom raised (Category 9A). Alternatively, with road tyres, it can operate with the undercarriage raised while the tyres run directly on the rails (Category 9C) to protect infrastructure.

The rail axle delivers a tractive force of 50 kN and enables travel speeds up to 40 km/h, with emergency towing speeds up to 60 km/h. An automatic oscillating axle locks during operation for stability and remains free during travel to optimize ride quality. Furthermore, a centre-mounted two-point support system with patent-pending kinematics provides increased lifting capacity while maintaining a compact footprint.

Hydraulic Performance and Power Systems
Powered by a 120-kW engine adopted from the A 922 Rail, the RE 22 M incorporates a Liebherr variable-displacement double pump system with independent control circuits. The hydraulic setup provides a flow rate of 2 x 220 l/min, permitting high-power attachments to function independently from travel and working movements. A secondary high-pressure circuit enables direct control of up to three hydraulic functions on specialized attachments.

Operator Environment and Ergonomics
The upper structure maintains ground-level service access points from preceding models alongside customizable counterweight options. The redesigned dual cab features an upper-section driving position equipped with a standard Comfort seat. Integration of the INTUSI adaptive operating concept removes the traditional steering-column control panel, consolidating functions onto the INTUSI display to improve visibility and workspace ergonomics.

Additional Context:
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement

Within the 22-tonne rail-road excavator market, machines are evaluated based on operating weight class flexibility, tractive force, and hydraulic circuit delivery rates. Comparable heavy rail construction excavators in the 20 to 25-tonne category typically deliver tractive forces between 45 kN and 55 kN and hydraulic pump capacities ranging from 2 x 200 l/min to 2 x 225 l/min. The RE 22 M Litronic aligns with these industry performance benchmarks while introducing distinct dual-category operational compliance (Categories 9A and 9C) and integrated INTUSI display controls to reduce mechanical clutter in the operator cabin.

Edited by Sucithra Mani, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

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