UK’s Eversholt Rail awards re-tractioning contract

2016-2-17

 United Kingdom, London: British rolling stock leasing company Eversholt Rail has awarded Vossloh Kiepe, a UK turnkey solutions provider to the rail transport industry, a contract to equip 30 four-car class 321 regional EMUs (electric multiple units) dating from the late 1980s with ac traction motors, new auxiliary systems and new braking systems as part of its Renatus upgrading programme.

The $8.5 million (£5.5m) project involves replacement of the main transformer, traction converter, auxilliary power supply, traction motors, and brakes, with improved wheel-slide protection, reports Rail Journal.

Eversholt says it expects retractioning of the class 321s to deliver a 14.9% improvement in tractive effort compared with an unmodified train, which could translate into a four-minute reduction in journey times between London Liverpool Street and Ipswich.

The switch to modern ac traction motors is expected to generate an 8% reduction in energy consumption.

Source: Rail Journal