IRJ at the IAF track show in Münster. Geismar had on show for the first time its range of 11 battery powered hand-held track maintenance machines which use one design of battery which is fully interchangeable between machines.

The Activion battery weighs 10kg and has an output of 1.4kW. Geismar says this will give the same performance as an internal combustion engine or in same cases better performance because the battery produces constant torque as with the coach screwing machine.

Geismar battery-powered track maintenace machines on show at IAF.

It is also possible to retrofit existing Geismar machines to operate with the Activion battery so customers can switch to electric operation without having to buy new machines.

Geismar also had on show its new Air Wizard bi-mode road-rail light rail catenary maintenance vehicle which is powered by methane for travel between work sites and batteries with sufficient power to work for six to eight hours per shift. A major benefit of using batteries, apart from the elimination of pollution, is the reduction in noise compared with a diesel vehicle, which is especially beneficial when working at night.

The vehicle, which is based on a Renault truck, has an 8m2 work platform measuring 4.3m by 2m which can be raised 5.5m above the rail head. The platform can also be rotated 100o in each direction and move up to 5m to the left or right of the track centre. In addition, the platform can be tilted to provide a level working area on canted track. The platform has a maximum payload of 1 tonne.

The first vehicle was built for Semitan, which operates the Nantes light rail network in France. Semitan also purchased two more similar machines from Geismar, one with a long-reach basket and the other for electrification mast replacement.

The Activion battery weighs 10kg and has an output of 1.4kW. Geismar says this will give the same performance as an internal combustion engine or in same cases better performance because the battery produces constant torque as with the coach screwing machine.

It is also possible to retrofit existing Geismar machines to operate with the Activion battery so customers can switch to electric operation without having to buy new machines.

Geismar also had on show its new Air Wizard bi-mode road-rail light rail catenary maintenance vehicle which is powered by methane for travel between work sites and batteries with sufficient power to work for six to eight hours per shift. A major benefit of using batteries, apart from the elimination of pollution, is the reduction in noise compared with a diesel vehicle, which is especially beneficial when working at night.

The vehicle, which is based on a Renault truck, has an 8m2 work platform measuring 4.3m by 2m which can be raised 5.5m above the rail head. The platform can also be rotated 100o in each direction and move up to 5m to the left or right of the track centre. In addition, the platform can be tilted to provide a level working area on canted track. The platform has a maximum payload of 1 tonne.

The first vehicle was built for Semitan, which operates the Nantes light rail network in France. Semitan also purchased two more similar machines from Geismar, one with a long-reach basket and the other for electrification mast replacement.