VR FleetCare and ABB Deliver Complex Traction Motor Repairs to Norway

In 2024, VR FleetCare won the maintenance project for the traction motors of Norske tog's EL 18 locomotives. In addition to standard maintenance, the project has included optional work on the traction motors, such as rewinding and impregnation of the stator coils, as well as complex additional repair works.

The project benefits from VR FleetCare’s specialised expertise in railway rolling stock, combined with ABB’s knowledge as a motor manufacturer and service provider. Collaborative planning, information sharing, and repair solution development have provided excellent results, especially when initial inspections of incoming components have revealed more challenging faults than were known before the start of the project.


Production Visit Provides Insight into the Project

Norske tog visited Finland to discuss the project details and plans and gain a deeper understanding. At VR FleetCare’s Helsinki depot, they had the opportunity to observe the maintenance of VR’s Sr2 electric locomotive – comparable to the EL 18 locomotives – together with FleetCare’s technical and production experts. The visitors also explored the servicing of Siemens Vectron electric locomotives and VR FleetCare’s component service workstations.

From the Helsinki depot, the delegation continued to ABB’s motor factory in Helsinki, where they were introduced to the production processes involved in traction motor maintenance. This included rotor repair methods and quality control procedures. Additionally, Joni Kiiski demonstrated the RAM (Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability) modeling and simulation method. RAM analysis is a modeling technique that helps optimise decision-making regarding lifecycle costs and reliability for complex repairable systems.


After the site visits in Helsinki, the journey continued to ABB’s service centre in Lappeenranta, where the traction motor maintenance is carried out. In Lappeenranta, the focus was on the standard maintenance process for the traction motors and continuous improvement efforts.

At the same time, the first traction motors that had undergone major repairs were reviewed, and discussions were held on the goals and plans for the current year regarding the motors. The customers are pleased to have found a reliable and experienced partner in Finland for both standard maintenance and repairs of their components. VR FleetCare and ABB are actively working together to find solutions that ensure quality and cost efficiency in the maintenance of traction motors for other customers as well.

During the trip, the visitors also had the opportunity to experience Finnish train travel firsthand, as trains served as the primary mode of transportation between Helsinki, Lappeenranta, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.

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