Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd has invested in more effective maintenance equipment as the length of the metro tunnel increases fourfold

Sustainability has been a major focus for the acquisition of a new tunnel cleaning wagon as Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd looks to improve its maintenance equipment for the increased metro tunnel. With the environment in mind, the new wagon which was supplied by VR FleetCare has been built on top of a recycled frame and utilises only biodegradable and eco-friendly washing agents.

Metro tunnels create both dirt and dust which are easily spread to stations due to air currents, an example of this is the iron particles created by braking metro trains which go on to accumulate in the air and also the walls, maintenance work which takes place through the night also creates ballast, stone and soot dust.

Dust buildup in the wrong place affects air quality and also brings risks of short circuits when it accumulates in locations with technical equipment including traffic control equipment, sensors and cameras in the tunnel. The attentive cleaning of the tunnel will provide improved safety as well as longevity of both the track and its equipment.

All sections of the metro tunnel will see the tunnel cleaning wagon used and it will also wash all fixed tunnel surfaces including walls, fire doors, ceilings, rails, points circuit housings and escape levels.

Procurement Engineer Jaakko Laurila from the City Transport Ltd Maintenance Unit said: “The metro tunnels are washed in both directions once a year. The work takes about two months. The new cleaning wagon enables washing as much as two kilometres of the tunnel during one night shift,” Pieksämäki machine shop – the place for freight wagon and special batch manufacture

VR FleetCare carried out the design of the tunnel cleaning wagon which also amalgamates the circular economy, environmentally friendliness and user ergonomics. The design process has also involved partners Citec and Suomen Ekopesu.

The cleaning wagon is now fully commissioned and has been built on top of a 2-axle freight wagon and was completed at VR FleetCare’s machine shop in Pieksämäki.

Peter Guldbrand, Vice President, Commercial, VR FleetCare said: “In accordance with the wishes of City Transport, we designed and implemented an environmentally friendly solution for City Transport to clean the metro tunnels and improve the air quality and general operating environment of the platforms. Our production line in Pieksämäki is ideally suited for this kind of small-scale series production of freight wagons and special equipment that use rails,”

The machine’s frame is based on a modified freight wagon with the washing machinery operated from a cabin which is equipped with cameras. The innovative device also features an 11 cubic metre water tank which fills with water from fire hydrants and also has a nozzle which reaches approximately six metres, the pumps are all run via a diesel generator. The wagon also features front bristles which support the washing of protective housings of the conductor rails.

Jaakko Laurila, Procurement Engineer at City Transport Ltd, said: “Unlike with the previous cleaning wagon, the user now has a well-illuminated closed cabin where they sit instead of standing. The new machine is also more reliable and cost-effective: the washing tip has a range of 360 degrees, the washings are more efficient, and the water tank needs to be filled less frequently. In addition, the detergent in the conductor rail housing is now applied by the machine, whereas it was previously done by manual spraying.”