Rolls-Royce and Alpha Trains sign letter of intent for rail drive systems   

Rolls-Royce and rail vehicle leasing company Alpha Trains are planning to conclude a framework agreement for up to 1,000 overhauls of the mtu drive systems used in Alpha Trains’ fleet of diesel railcars, which consists of the Talent, Desiro and Lint series. The corresponding letter of intent was signed by both companies at InnoTrans, the leading international trade fair for rail and transport technology, which took place in Berlin at the end of September 2024.

The main objectives of the agreement are to fully align the overhaul processes with Alpha Trains and its customers, to develop replacement solutions in the event of possible obsolescence, i.e., to replace components before they become obsolete, and to maintain their deliverability. The Power Systems division of Rolls-Royce is also thoroughly examining the introduction of the EU maintenance certification ECM 2 and 4. The contract will ensure that mtu underfloor drive systems are maintained in the best possible way, both technically and economically, throughout the remaining service life of Alpha Trains’ diesel multiple units.

Alpha Trains owns 173 diesel multiple units equipped with 369 mtu PowerPacks from Rolls-Royce – including vehicles from the VT 643 (Talent), VT 642 (Desiro), VT 648 (Coradia Lint41) and VT 622 (LINT54) series. mtu PowerPacks are compact drive systems that, in addition to the engine and power transmission, contain all the auxiliary units necessary to drive the vehicle, such as the cooling system and the exhaust gas aftertreatment.

Jörg Hagemeyer, Engineering Director of the Passenger Division of Alpha Trains Europa, commented: “With the long-term partnership and the conclusion of this framework agreement between Rolls-Royce and Alpha Trains, we are offering our customers and the operators of our trains an all-round carefree package: we are increasing the attractiveness of the Alpha Trains diesel railcar fleet and maximizing the availability of the drive systems.”

Lukas Köhler, Managing Director Sales and Service Germany at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, added: “It is very important to us to be a long-term industry partner for Alpha Trains. In particular, our investments in our remanufacturing plant in Magdeburg and our service engineering have enabled us to provide Alpha Trains and its customers with the best possible long-term support in operating their vehicle fleets. Part of our strategy is to continuously improve our service business by providing sustainable solutions.”

A new lifecycle for mtu rail drives Reman (short for remanufacturing) is the term used to describe the industrial renewal of main components and engines. mtu PowerPacks are completely disassembled using standardized processes, cleaned, tested, refurbished and reassembled with remanufactured components or new parts. Product improvements are automatically incorporated in the process. The environment also benefits from mtu’s reman solutions: products that have reached the end of their useful life are not simply disposed of, but are renewed from the ground up. This process minimizes the demand for raw materials and energy. The PowerPacks are then returned to the customer as good as new and are available for a further operating cycle of around 18,000 hours.