The RU 800 S track renewal machine with integrated ballast bed cleaning: working method and operating experience gained in practice

摘要

In April 2006, the RU 800 S track renewal machine with integrated ballast bed cleaning commenced its first operations under true operating conditions on worksites of Austrian Federal Railways (OBB) and German Rail (DB AG). Since then, more than 400 km of track have been renewed and the ballast bed cleaned simultaneously, using this machine. The experience gained with the RU 800 S has been extremely positive and shown that, with the correct application, considerable time and cost savings can be achieved, as compared to using conventional methods. This exactly meets the specification requirements on which its development by Swietelsky, in cooperation with Plasser & Theurer, was based. This article describes the RU 800 S and its working method, supplemented by examples of its application in practice.