UK track maintenance company Network Rail has ordered new 'tilting' wagons to reduce the number of line closures when performing engineering upgrades, the company has announced.
The £10m order with German plant manufacturer Kirow is set to help engineers renew a set of points in overnight eight-hour possessions, reducing disruption to commuter services, says Network Rail.
The work currently takes around 54 hours to perform, which often requires closing lines over a weekend.
Points will be fully constructed and tested in factories before being taken to site in modular panels, carried by the wagons and transported directly to the site, says the company.
"The modular programme is set to deliver big benefits in the way we upgrade the railway, enabling us to do it quicker and more efficiently while improving quality and reliability," says Network Rail Chief Engineer Andrew McNaughton.
The first wagons are set to be fully tested and ready for use by autumn 2009, with the full fleet of 26 vehicles in operation in 2010.
In February, Network Rail was fined a record £14m by The Office of Rail Regulation for engineering overruns during the Christmas and New Year period.
By Ozge Ibrahim
