Contact
PRODUCTSINDUSTRIESSOLUTIONSWHERE TO BUYWAGOSUPPORTDOWNLOADSCareers
Customer application

Getting efficient shunting locomotives without negative impacts

German freight traffic would practically come to a standstill without diesel-powered shunting locomotives. The Voith technology company has developed a sophisticated start/stop system to reduce the high idle times that often exceed 60 percent. The special difference here: ‟OnEfficiency.StopStart“ can be retrofitted and adapted to different product series of any manufacturer. This can save fleet operators an average of 11,000 liters of fuel annually and 30 tons of CO2 – for every vehicle that is. Non-interference with safety functions and, thus, protection of the locomotive is achieved technically using relay and optocoupler modules from WAGO.

When you imagine a train running you most likely also see an overhead line in the picture in your mind. This is because anywhere you see tracks, the scene is also marked by catenary line systems – or so you would think. But it's not always that way: Only around 60 percent of the German railway system is electrified, not even including freight traffic. In particular in marshalling yards without catenary systems, the combustion engine continues to rule.

Enhancing efficiency in freight traffic – with interface electronics and automation technology from WAGO:

  • Relay and optocoupler modules ensure freedom of interference with safety functions.

     

     

  • Compact, modular solutions for non-air-conditioned control cabinets

  • Standard-compliant technology stands up to mechanical loads and the most extreme ambient temperatures.

     

Product Highlights

The Story

High Idles Times due to Long Standing and Waiting Periods

‟Two-thirds standing and waiting, one-third in operation – that is a typical service profile of a diesel-powered shunting locomotive“ explains Sebastian Günther, system and project engineer at Voith. Voith has developed an automatic start/stop system to reduce these high idle times. Its special feature: ‟OnEfficiency.StopStart“ can be retrofitted, making it an interesting option for decades-old rail vehicles. Compared with proprietary motor stops from other providers, this start/stop system is not bound to any one manufacturer and can be adapted to a wide variety of product series.

‟OnEfficiency.StopStart“ is already in use in a number of locomotives. For example, the system is in use in locomotives of Rurtalbahn (G1206), ETF (G1206) and Northrail (G1206).

Source: RTB Cargo®

Retrofit Solution without Negative Impacts

‟One key question our customers ask is to what extent does a retrofit solution have an adverse impact on the vehicle or on the vehicle control system“, states Günther. With ‟OnEfficiency.StopStart“ this vital safety aspect is solved technically using interface electronics from WAGO. At the input side the acquired digital signals of the locomotive – above all those from the controller – are routed via optocoupler modules to the I/O System 750 XTR. Analog signals such as motor speed and cooling water temperature are integrated directly via differential inputs. At the automation system outputs, also from WAGO, relay modules in turn interrupt the conducting paths for the motor stop.
The consistent galvanic isolation of the control and load circuits reliably prevents intervention of any kind in the existing vehicle systems. ‟This renders safety functions immune to adverse impacts, and our solution operates autonomously. Even a system failure would not affect proper functioning and availability of the locomotive“, stresses Jan Bock, employed as an automation systems engineer at Voith.

The WAGO I/O System 750 XTR is the key component for continuous efficiency evaluation and enhancement and ensures that the ‟OnEfficiency.StopStart“ start/stop system from Voith offers much more than just a simple motor stop for locomotives.

Source: Voith Group