LONGER SERVICE LIVES: KNORR-BREMSE AND VR FLEETCARE SIGN SERVICE AGREEMENT TO MAINTAIN BRAKING SYSTEMS OF 46 LOCOMOTIVES
Knorr-Bremse, the global market leader for braking and other systems for rail and commercial vehicles, and Finnish railroad vehicle maintenance company VR FleetCare, a subsidiary of VR Group, have signed a service agreement in the single-digit million-euro range for a fleet of 46 Sr2-type locomotives.
Knorr-Bremse and Finland’s state-owned railroad vehicle maintenance company VR FleetCare, a subsidiary of VR Group, have concluded a comprehensive lifecycle management contract for 46 freight and passenger locomotives.
- Knorr-Bremse and Finland’s state-owned railroad vehicle maintenance company VR FleetCare, a subsidiary of VR Group, have concluded a lifecycle management contract featuring overhaul and repair service for the braking systems of 46 freight and passenger locomotives
- The contract in the single-digit million-euro range runs until the year 2028
- By supporting customers with advanced service models and made-to-measure support concepts, Knorr-Bremse contributes to ensuring trains’ operability over their service lives and helps increase availability of rail transport
Until the year 2028, Knorr-Bremse RailServices will be maintaining the brake control and wheel slide protection units of the vehicles’ braking systems.
“Knorr-Bremse is geared towards helping its clients maximize the availability of their rail vehicle fleet through customized lifecycle management concepts,” says Dr. Jürgen Wilder, Member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse AG and responsible for the Rail Vehicle Systems division. “Thereby, we are helping operators to provide even better, safer and more efficient mobility by rail both for passenger and freight transport.”
“For the first time, Knorr-Bremse is supporting a client with one of its new two-pronged carefree packages – covering both refreshment and repair service”, adds Mark Cleobury, Member of the Management Board of Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems. “We are delighted to be able to assist VR FleetCare in ensuring the operability of VR Group’s locomotive fleet across the Finnish railroad network.”
Refreshment and repair service: a carefree maintenance package
In order to help secure the smooth and trouble-free operation of VR Group’s Sr2 locomotive fleet, the service agreement, which runs to the year 2028, consists of two modules: a refreshment service, i.e. planned overhaul of the brake control and wheel slide protection units, and a repair service, including proactive obsolescence management, i.e. preventive measures to secure the vehicles’ life time should critical parts be discontinued or become out-dated.
After the Sr1 locomotives, the Sr2 series is the second generation of electrically powered locomotives. Operated by VR Group since the mid-1990s and with a 1,524 mm gauge, the Sr2 fleet is used both for passenger and freight transport at top speeds of up to 210 km/h. Both brake control and wheel slide protection units have been developed and delivered by Knorr-Bremse. However, after reliably running for more than 30 years, the electronic components are increasingly affected by aging effects and obsolescence. Knorr-Bremse will now be assisting VR FleetCare in ensuring the fleet’s operability over their entire lifecycle.
RailServices: Enhancing availability and extending service lives
Offering optimal and customized service packages for rail vehicle manufacturers and operators worldwide, Knorr-Bremse RailServices is the strategic service partner in the aftermarket. As part of an integrated lifecycle management, the unit enables trains to operate for up to 40 years and helps optimize operating costs.
Besides original parts supply, overhauls, repairs and training, RailServices helps to prevent vehicles from being discarded due to obsolete components by providing modernization and lifecycle services for electronic components. For example, Knorr-Bremse RailServices has been chosen to modernize the braking systems of at least 155 of German operator Deutsche Bahn’s VT 642 regional multiple units – a key contribution to extending the vehicles’ service life, avoid obsolescence and foster resource-sensitive rail transport.
RailServices is advancing the aftermarket business: As a one-stop shop, the partner supports its customers with innovative and digital service models in the fields of energy saving, parts availability and operational optimization. In this way, Knorr-Bremse is helping to further improve the ecological footprint of vehicles and fleets and is thereby strengthening the company’s future-driven service business.
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