The Austrian railway company ÖBB has unveiled the Hydrojet, an innovative technology for maintaining drainage in railway tunnels that will reduce labour and avoid service interruptions.
The new Hydrojet incorporates the cutting-edge MDB02 system, developed in partnership by ÖBB and the Austrian subsidiary of the Spanish company FCC. This modular system is installed over the central drainage shafts within tunnels and features wash nozzles equipped with integrated cameras, enabling extensive lengths of drainage pipes to be cleaned.
This system made its debut in the Granitztal Tunnel, part of the Koralm railway line. The technology enables cleaning of over 2,000 metres in a single pass, compared to the 150 metres previously cleaned, and can operate without halting rail traffic.
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Remotely operated, the Hydrojet can be positioned over the tunnel’s central flushing shaft, enhancing maintenance efficiency and safety.
With this solution, ÖBB can efficiently maintain drainage systems in over 750 kilometres of tunnels under construction, including those on the Koralm, Granitztal, and Semmering Base Tunnels.
Cleaning tunnel drainage is essential to prevent blockages that cause water build-up, potentially leading to structural damage.
The Hydrojet is part of ÖBB’s overarching investment plan for 2022-2027, which amounts to €18.2 billion aimed at general improvements, electrification, modernisation, and infrastructure maintenance.