Network Rail has awarded Loram UK a contract for the maintenance of its New Measurement Train (NMT).
Otherwise knows as the ‘Flying Banana', this Class 43 High Speed Train can run up to 125mph and records data allowing maintenance on the tracks to be measured and planned.
Based in Derby, the NMT can be seen on all parts of the Rail Network from Penzance to Perth to London Kings Cross.
The train captures up to 10TB of data every 440 miles with high resolution camera fitted to the front of the train, giving engineers a clear idea of what needs to be done in certain places.
The contract is budgeted for £8million over five years.
You can find out some more information about the NMT here.
What did the officials say?
Mike Black, supply chain services director, Network Rail, said:
“This contract simplifies the maintenance of the New Measurement Train. It will not only deliver savings to Network Rail and ultimately the taxpayer, but also ensure that the train is maintained to a high standard so it can continue to work for the safety of passengers and other railway users.”
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Has Network Rail got rid of the Class 313 small yellow maintenance train “313121” as the Class 313 on Great Northern are now scrapped and replaced by the Class 717 and Southern are keeping their Class 313 for little bit longer.
So there’s a camera on the front, what does the rest of the train do? I assume it’s rather more than a yellow train with (presumably a hi-res high frame rate) camera on the front?
It checks for platform clearances and also track condition etc 🙂
Network Rail being already Nationalised should be made to set up a train company only to run Passenger trains and all the failing train companies must be told to liaise a transfer date for Network rail to take over operation of passenger services, this should slowly become the norm thus uniting track and train undergone company but 2 departments, all money saved can be used for better uses than removing profits from the Railway never to be seen again,other countries think we’re mad the way our Railway is set up,it dosent operate for customers only company bosses profits and shareholders mostly abroad so thus country gets no benefit from contracting out.