Wabtec: Evolution locomotive fleet maintenance

Wabtec Corporation and Brazilian mining company Vale have signed an agreement for the technical maintenance of the Evolution locomotive fleet used on the Carajás Railway (Estrada de Ferro Carajás, EFC), this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The contract, valued at 1.8 billion Brazilian reais ($330 million USD), spans 10 years and aims to improve the operational performance, reliability, and freight transportation development of the fleet.

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This railway connects the southeastern regions of the Pará state to the port city of São Luís on the Atlantic coast, also the capital of the Maranhão state.

Under this agreement, Wabtec specialists will conduct a thorough analysis of the EFC locomotive fleet’s operational performance over the past three years. They will also implement real-time monitoring of locomotives across 5000 parameters.

The gathered data will be used to identify opportunities for improving rolling stock performance and optimizing maintenance cycles, ultimately reducing failures and increasing reliability.

In addition to planning maintenance and supplying spare parts for preventive technical servicing, the implementation of this agreement will create jobs for skilled specialists, stimulating the economic and social development of the region.

Vale employees will undergo training to enhance the efficiency of locomotive operation and maintenance, which is also a crucial part of the project.

It’s worth noting that the collaboration between Vale and Wabtec has been ongoing for almost three decades. In July 2023, the companies reached another significant agreement: Wabtec will supply Vale with three FLXdrive locomotives powered by battery technology for use on the EFC railway.

Furthermore, the companies have agreed to jointly explore the potential of using ammonia as an alternative fuel for locomotives, which could significantly reduce their dependency on diesel fuel and decrease the environmental footprint.

Thus, the new agreement between Wabtec and Vale not only aims to improve the technical maintenance and operational performance of the locomotive fleet but also contributes to regional development and the adoption of environmentally friendly technologies in railway transportation.

This partnership demonstrates the importance of long-term and strategic cooperation between major industrial companies to achieve sustainable development and innovation in the industry.

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