DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung mobile service teams in action for the rescue train

DB InfraGO's rescue trains are essential for rescue operations in tunnels on high-speed lines. They ensure safe railway operations. The local service teams from DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung play a key role in this by carrying out regular maintenance and repairs to ensure that the rescue trains are always ready for use.

DB InfraGO's seven rescue trains are an important part of the emergency technology and are used on high-speed lines where tunnels cannot be accessed by regular fire and rescue service vehicles. Rescue trains are used in their place. These trains transport emergency personnel, fire-fighting equipment and injured persons and have a self-sufficient supply of energy and breathing air to remain operational for a long time in the event of an emergency.

 In order for the rescue trains to be on site quickly in the event of a disaster, 24/7/365 staffing must be guaranteed. To ensure operational readiness around the clock, there are six rescue train locations along the almost 500-kilometre route, spread from Hildesheim to Kassel, Fulda, Wuerzburg, Mannheim and Kornwestheim. The safety concept for express routes stipulates that no more than 24 hours may pass on this route without all six locations being manned by one rescue train each. Otherwise, all traffic would have to be diverted, which would entail considerable logistical and operational challenges as well as significant delays.

Technically flawless trains

To ensure that the rescue trains are always available in perfect technical condition, they are regularly moved. This also means that recurring maintenance and operational maintenance services are necessary. The mobile service teams of DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung's local service are the right partner for precisely this. 

The local Service manages its mobile teams from various maintenance depots and can therefore deploy them optimally according to the expertise and geographical location of the employees. For example, the team in Cottbus is responsible for locomotives, while Wittenberge looks after the wagons. Maintenance can be carried out on the move or in a stationary workshop.

The ideal partner

One aspect of their work is the constant time pressure, as delays could lead to line closures. “We have a maximum of 24 hours for the rescue trains, otherwise the route is closed,” says André Ruebsamen, Service Manager of the local service. “For us, this means that every operation has to be prepared as meticulously as possible, always keeping an eye on the time, but also being able to assess in advance whether an operation is feasible in the time available or whether DB InfraGO will have to bring the replacement locomotive to the unoccupied location on the high-speed line.”

Close cooperation and constant coordination with DB InfraGO are essential. “Our mobile service teams not only look after rescue trains for DB InfraGO, but also a large number of vehicles that require special expertise,” says Ruebsamen.

The collaboration has proven to be extremely successful. Thanks to the mobility of the service teams, their special expertise and their contacts to centrally located workshops, it is possible to guarantee a high availability of rescue trains and auxiliary vehicles and to be able to intervene as quickly as possible in an emergency.