All-electric on and along the tracks

Introduction of sustainable machines

Railcare has expanded its sustainable Greenline line with two innovative machines: the 100% electrically powered transport lorrie Eco Rail Mover 12" (E.R.M 12), and the hybrid Rail Aerial Platform 430 (RAP 430). "An important next step towards the optimal use of sustainable machines for work on and around the track," said Wibo van der Laaken, director/owner of Railcare.  

Sustainability plays an increasingly important role in work on and to the rail network in the Netherlands and Belgium. Railcare responds to this with its sustainable line Greenline. Wibo: "We focus on the rental and development of rail-related machines such as aerial work platforms, cranes and rotary telescopic handlers. A few years ago we focused on sustainability, resulting in our own line under the name Railcare Greenline. Two years ago we introduced the very first hybrid EcoRailer to the market. A hybrid aerial work platform to perform work at height quickly and easily. We have now expanded our sustainable line with two more electrically powered machines: the transport trolley E.R.M. 12 and the hybrid Rail Aerial Platform 430 (RAP 430)."

Multifunctional transport trolley

The E.R.M.12 is an electrically driven transport trolley equipped with rechargeable Li-Fe traction batteries. "We developed and built it in cooperation with Nijhuis Engineering from Dronten. What is special about the machine is that it is modularly adaptable and therefore multi-deployable. It can be used as a work container carrier, a personnel transport vehicle for 28 people, or easily adapted from an enclosed box truck to a flat-bed lorry for long loads. And it is also very useful to use as a traveling work light. All around, in fact, the E.R.M. is equipped with intense radiant lighting." In addition to being fully electric, it is efficient and cost-saving. "The motors are electrically driven and have a so-called regenerative braking system. When descending slopes and in tunnels, the motors store the braking energy back in the batteries." According to Wibo, the transport trolley has another important advantage: "you don't need KROLs to bring in people and materials."

Hybrid railroad platform

The other innovation is the hybrid RAP 430, the hybrid version of the proven railroad boom lift. "It is an easy to operate machine with simple technology. The maximum working height is 16 meters, the horizontal reach is over 8 meters, working load in the bucket 430 kg. The special feature of the RAP is that with this machine it is possible to drive tilted. Like the E.R.M. 12, it is also suitable for regular Prorail track, as well as local streetcar track. It also has authorization for the Belgian Infrabel track."

Large rental fleet

With the addition of these two sustainable vehicles, Railcare has a rental fleet of some 53 manned and unmanned machines that are deployed on major projects such as the North-South Line, the renovation of the Schiphol Tunnel, the Betuwe Line and the Hanze Line. Because they facilitate rail-related work, Railcare is available 24/7.