Track maintenance: varied and challenging

With over fifty years of experience in track work, Van Oosterwijk Molenschot BV is the trusted address for the rental of rollers (cranes on trolleys) for track work and the loan of experienced rollers operators. The family business has the most modern equipment and attachments. An interview with Linda Michielsen- van Oosterwijk about the exciting and growing market and the ongoing search for qualified crane operators.

"Since 1970, we have grown into a reliable partner for clients in the Netherlands and Belgium," Linda begins. "Of course, we cannot excel in this work without our motivated professionals and the trust of our clients. Moreover, 30% more trains are expected to start running by 2030. This means that we are looking for motivated, flexible train drivers who can work on the tracks with a troll. Both in the Netherlands and in Belgium we are working hard on the maintenance and new construction of all railroad tracks, streetcar tracks and metro tracks. Working on the tracks is very attractive and varied because of the diversity of the work."

Varied and exciting work

Van Oosterwijk Molenschot is involved in a wide variety of track work. "Just recently we have been busy replacing concrete catenary portals," says Linda. "The end of that is not yet in sight. Some 500 kilometers of track are still in need of replacement. And because it is getting busier and busier on the tracks, more maintenance will also have to take place. Hence our appeal to crane operators throughout the Netherlands: come along, get to know our company, step into a roller and experience how specialized this machine really is. Because of our huge range of attachments, the work is very varied and fascinating. One moment you are finishing ballast and the next you are replacing switchwood or repairing a level crossing."

Specialist equipment

In total, Van Oosterwijk Molenschot has sixteen rollers, eight of type Atlas 160 and eight of type Atlas 180, as well as a large number of multifunctional braked combilorries. These combi lorries can be converted to a spray container, ballast unloading container or a passenger lorry, among other things. Linda: "In addition to the standard attachments such as a sorting bucket, swiveling tilt and squeezing buckets, we also have specialized attachments such as a tamping unit, a ballast suction dredger, a pile cutter, an MDV bucket, a rail cutter, a ballast brush and recently a Movax SG-45V Full. The latter allows us to jack tubes to install catenary poles. In combination with the Movax control system MCS PRO, we sometimes vibrate as many as fifteen to twenty tubes into the ground per night. The highly advanced control system ensures that the pipe is automatically vibrated straight into the ground, with all parameters being collected in the excavator module. Think of the load, quality and bearing capacity of the entire vibration process. Interesting data for follow-up projects."

Interested in a challenging job and working with the most modern equipment? Please feel free to contact Van Oosterwijk Molenschot.