Since October last year, Rollingstock Maintenance has been trialling a new model of maintenance called On-Train Repair which removes the need to break trains and shunt wagons to depots
for maintenance
The process involves keeping the train together as a block and mobilising maintenance crews to the train to conduct repairs such as wheel changes, brake block replacements and minor
welding. New wheel change kits have been trialled which allow wagons to be jacked up on track and wheels placed into position under the bogies.
By using this approach, multiple wheels on the same train can be changed out simultaneously.
This significantly reduces the time that wagons are out of service, from what could be several days in the depot to only a few hours on track.
The process is underpinned by Condition Monitoring technology and analysis tools that provide detailed information on wheel and component condition. This enables the business to schedule the right train into the designated track at the right time so that the components, equipment and maintainers are already in place to perform the wheel change as soon as the train arrives.
This approach reduces the number of yard shunts performed, eases yard congestion, reduces asset downtime and reduces the number of spare wagons required to support rollingstock
maintenance activities.
Overall this results in improved asset productivity and lower operating costs. The new On-Train Repair process is currently being rolled out across maintenance depots in Queensland with implementation aimed to be completed across Jilalan, Callemondah, Pring and Hexham by the
end of 2015.