Banedanmark has reduced the time required for complex switch replacements by nearly 70%, from approximately 100 hours per switch to approximately 32 hours. This will shorten track closures during work and reduce disruption to train traffic.
A switch is a track element that allows trains to switch from one track to another, allowing them to change direction or pass each other. The installation of switchgears is complex because connecting two lines requires precision and also requires high safety. In total, there are more than 3,700 switches on the Banedanmark railway network.
“The aim was to significantly reduce the impact on punctuality of the critical work of laying and replacing switchgear. We achieved this by planning the work more intelligently, thereby reducing the amount of time spent We have reduced the overall time. The result is shorter track closures and less disruption to rail traffic,” said Christian Feveil Andersen, project director at Springmark.
Process optimization
The one-third reduction in time was achieved by adjusting several aspects of the changeover operation, including changes in logistics requirements, equipment, production times, parallel operations, and improved task management during execution. The project received support from Danish and German experts who provided advice on optimization possibilities, and drew inspiration from Austria and the United Kingdom, which have experience in this field.
“Based on this, we first optimized the new concept theoretically and then tested it in reality, collecting data and subsequently analyzing it. In this way, the concept was developed both internally in Banedanmark and elsewhere in Europe. It has evolved throughout the process, based on best practices in both countries,” explains Christian Fever Andersen.
The next step will be four follow-up pilot projects in Høje Taastrup to further test the new switch replacement concept. “Our goal is to use our newly developed methodology to conclude completely new framework agreements and pave the way for long-term cooperation agreements with suppliers. Such large-scale tenders can also attract international interest. “There’s a certain gender,” says Christian Fever Andersen.
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