Installation of catenary

Working more safely and productively:
installation and maintenance of overhead lines

More information

Mechanisation of the installation and maintenance of overhead lines helps to assure the high availability of electrified lines in a cost-efficient way. Apart from a versatile lifting platform for personnel, the equipment of the Plasser & Theurer catenary installation and renewal vehicles includes a crane and various accessories and measuring devices. This ensures that the vehicles are well equipped for maintenance work and the repair of malfunctions. They can be used equally well in work trains operating on large-scale worksites.

Why must maintenance work be carried out?

To be able to guarantee at all times that overhead lines are in good working order both electrically and mechanically, inspections, and if necessary also repairs, are carried out regularly. However, maintenance work on overhead lines cannot be spread out over the day as required and is only possible in intervals between trains.

The continuing development of catenary designs for high-speed lines poses challenges for the work technology. Special equipment is needed for installation and maintenance of these complex designs which will allow unrestricted and safe access to all points of the catenary system.

How are overhead lines built and maintained efficiently?

Installation and renewal of overhead lines are time-consuming and cost-intensive work processes. The same applies for their maintenance. The deployment of modern catenary renewal trains, motor tower cars and multipurpose vehicles achieves far higher rates of productivity. At the same time the safety of the personnel is raised and extremely strenuous jobs are taken over by powerful mechanical devices.

Renewal and installation machines

Motor tower cars