Situation
At a train maintenance depot it’s not always possible to empty the carriages of sanitation waste using the stationary CT pumps. Low temperatures in winter can cause the pumps outdoors to freeze, and at times the carriages need to be emptied without being moved. Northern Rail’s Heaton depot in Newcastle needed a way of cleaning the carriages in a way that is flexible to the situation at hand.
Solution
Vogelsang’s MobileUnit provided the solution. Fitted onto a self-propelled trailer, the MobileUnit can be used in the train maintenance depot shed or at the site of the carriage if it’s unable to be moved, significantly reducing stoppage time.
Brent Main, Plant Train Leader at Northern Rail, said: “The MobileUnit works a treat. It’s a vital piece of equipment for Heaton TrainCare Centre. It’s not always possible to use a fixed CET pump; for instance in winter the CET pumps and pipework often freeze, however the MobileUnit can easily be within the shed so this eliminates service delivery stoppage time. The same thing applies when a train carriage needs to be emptied internally and can’t be moved from its current protected position.
Outcome
“Because, by its design, a closed system, it has the ability to suck and pump source to source, it’s very clean and everything can easily be flushed to the drainage system - which can be up to 1,000 litres a night when it’s in use. The unit itself is easy to manoeuvre, has a braking system, can be power isolated and is robust enough to cross rail tracks with ease. During our possession, and in use we’ve never had an issue with it,” added Brent.
Learn more about the MobileUnit
