Rolling stock refurbishment for more cost efficiency

Refurbishment of rolling stock offers rail operators an interesting alternative to purchasing new rail vehicles. Extended life time of existing rolling stock promises the best possible use of investments. However, the necessary decisions should be made promptly without compromising on safety. TÜV SÜD now offers special refurbishment services that support rail operators in this decision-making process as well as safety related assessments of refurbishment measures and quality assurance.

Rail operators worldwide are facing the challenge of having to create additional capacities in passenger and freight transport and further improving operational reliability while cutting costs at the same time. Rail vehicles play a significant role in this context. These dynamic systems are exposed to extreme weather conditions and their mechanical components, such as car bodies and bogies, must withstand high dynamic loads. Given this, the lifetime of rolling stock is limited. However, refurbishment measures can extend the lifetime, and thus postpone costly new purchases, or can be used to realise an ideal mix of refurbished and new rail vehicles. They may thus prove of advantage for rail operators for cost reasons.

“When deciding whether to refurbish existing or buy new rolling stock, rail operators must consider and weigh up a host of aspects related to technical condition, safe operation and operational costs”, explains Alfred Beer, Business Line Manager Rolling Stock, TÜV SÜD. Hardware and software lifecycles are growing increasingly short, and original parts may no longer be available and therefore have to be replaced by other components. In addition, passengers' demands for enhanced comfort are rising, and legal requirements are growing increasingly strict. The new refurbishment services offered by TÜV SÜD's rail experts support rail operators to monitor the quality, reliability and safety of their rolling stock, to maximise maintenance efficiency and to assess the safety of their planned refurbishment measures. The services include evaluation of the residual lifespan of rolling stock, risk analyses, assessment of the possible interactions between new and existing components and systems or the impacts on the entire system, as well as assessment of conformity with relevant international and national standards, approval management and updating of technical documentation.

TÜV SÜD's Rail Business Unit is a leading international one-stop service provider for rail systems, with 600 employees at 29 locations. Its service portfolio covers inspection, certification, testing, knowledge services and training along the entire value chain in the rail sector. Further information about TÜV SÜD's services in the rail sector can be found at www.tuv-sud.com/rail.

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