The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) is renewing its fleet of infrastructure vehicles with an order for eight high-performance units from Windhoff Bahn- und Anlagentechnik. The contract is valued at roughly 59 million EUR.
RhB’s construction and maintenance workload continues to grow, while several of its existing tractors and support vehicles have reached the end of their service life. Models such as the Tm 2/2 81–84, Tm 2/2 95–98 and Xmf 2/2 9921 require extensive repairs to stay in service. Limited towing power, restricted crane capability and shortages of spare parts have further reduced their usefulness across construction sites, emergency duties and winter operations.
The Windhoff vehicles are designed as multifunctional units for deployment across RhB’s six railway districts and by cable construction teams. Each vehicle is fitted with a crane, winch, grab and work platform, while interfaces allow the installation of a vacuum excavator or snow blower. According to RhB, the standardised design is intended to streamline logistics and material supply during periods of parallel construction activity.
The vehicles weigh about 58 tonnes and use a diesel-electric drive system with a 520 kW main engine and a 170 kW auxiliary engine, each powering generators. Electric traction motors mounted in both bogies remove the need for hydraulic lines and reduce the risk of oil leaks. Continuous power at the wheel is rated at 500 kW, with a starting tractive effort of 150 kN and a top speed of 80 km/h. A forward-sloping windscreen improves visibility, including at sites with obstructed approaches.
The onboard crane offers a horizontal reach of around 16.9 m and includes a negatively articulated arm for work under overhead lines. The cab accommodates up to seven people, features air-conditioning and is mounted with damping for improved comfort.
RhB plans to introduce the new vehicles into service in 2029.
