Siwtcher on Zabłocie station (video)

A month ago, using in-house technology, the KZN Bieżanów Group transported in sections and then precisely unloaded a key railway switch at the newly built Zabłocie-Krzemionki railway siding. We present a film documenting this project.

For the innovative, Polish-made Switcher system, the project at Kraków Zabłocie station was an another practical test. Within the area of operations, the shared procedures between the manufacturer of the 60E1 500 1:12 railway turnout (in this case KZN “Bieżanów”) and the company managing the entire logistics process (daughter company – KZN Rail) were closely observed. The technology itself was verified, particularly in terms of the protection afforded to the railway turnout sections during transport; unloading the points system parts transported on a wagon without a crane by means of cranes located on a neighbouring wagon equipped with HDS; and the implementation and protection of night work on a high railway embankment.

As the core argument for transporting factory-assembled railway turnout sections is their high initial quality, incomparable with other technologies, it was particularly important to compare the structure’s parameters before loading it in Bieżanów and after unloading at Zabłocie. The “yellow grate” fixing and stiffening system mounted on the long and fragile railway turnout sections and accompanying them throughout the entire logistics process passed the test. There were none of the deflections and deformations of the structure that would certainly have occurred with less advanced and less reliable protection. In practice, the theoretical assumptions regarding the unloading from wagons with long platforms and not equipped with cranes (Switcher), using HDS located on neighbouring wagons with HDS and a shorter platform (Switcher+) were put to the test. The unloading of the frog section was carried out precisely and with a high level of safety. As this block for a 500-m radius railway turnout is a rather compact, not too long and rigid structure – no stiffening was used and unloading was done using a single crane from a neighbouring wagon. As for longer elements (switch, connecting rails), using a stiffening grate and both HDS from Switcher+, adjacent to the long platform on both sides is necessary.

The argument in favour of Switcher is also in limiting the number of processes and people needed to implement them, and thus raising the level of safety at the construction site. At Zabłocie, it was inspected in difficult, night-time conditions, working on a high embankment. Particular attention was paid to the stability of the wagons during unloading. The safety system in the form of retractable paws at the HDS of the Switcher+ wagons has clearly confirmed its function.

It should be remembered that the previous project at Świdnik station confirmed Switcher’s ability to transport heavy blocks of double scissors crossovers, equipped with pre-stressed pretensioned concrete sleepers and then cooperate with external, autonomous railway cranes. “After hundreds of “laboratory” tests or those carried out in fully controlled conditions at the manufacturing facilities, the Switcher technology operation is being tested on construction sites. We want to optimize the entire process. For now, we’re not focused on breaking time records, but even if we’re not aiming to shorten the assembly process, we’ve already achieved very competitive results.” says Ryszard Leszczyński, CEO of the KZN Bieżanów Group.