CIVITAS CATALIST Workshop · future track sections, apply LCC (Life Cycle Costs) analysis, > Construction procedures should not be neglected, > Follow the “keep it simple” rule

© TTK GmbH 2011

CIVITAS CATALIST Workshop

“Maintenance need when constructing new tram infrastructure”

May 25th, 2011

Natalie Rodriguez

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Maintenance need when constructing new tram infrastructure

Contents

> Brief presentation of Urban track> Regulatory framework of tramway infrastructure construction and

maintenance> Why is it important to take into consideration maintenance during the tram

construction phase?> Long-term cost reduction through a LCC-approach> Recommendations

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Urban Track

> 6th European framework program> 4 years of duration

(2006-2010)> Budget 22 M€> 26 partners (industry, institutional,

operations and consulting firms)

> TTK was lead partner> SP2 « Maintenance »> SP4 « LCC and socio-economic

cost »

www.urbantrack.eu

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Regulation framework of tramway infrastructure

> European regulation and directives> At a local level (urban), no European institutions directly accountable for the regulation

and inspection for urban tramway infrastructure.

> National regulation today > Each country has its own specific regulation regarding tramway infrastructure,> Railway vehicle maintenance urges a certain certification as opposed to tramway

infrastructure maintenance, where no certification is required.

> Specifications of call for tenders for the construction of tramway infrastructure:> Separate call for tenders for the different phases related to tram infrastructure: design

and/or construction, infrastructure maintenance and operations. > Within the call for tenders for the construction, usually a maintenance chapter is not

included.> Growing attention in this subject. > For the preparation of future call for tenders of new tram infrastructure construction,

some of the transport authorities or operators interviewed will integrate a chapter of maintenance.

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Context regarding construction of urban tram infrastructure

> Often there is NO current link between maintenance and design/construction in segregated networks

> Lack of involvement of the maintenance team during the construction phase.

All-in-the-house operations

Construction Operation

State-owned transport company

State

MaintenanceDesign

Responsible for:

Operation

Transport Authority

Maintenance

Design

Transport company (concession contract: ~

20 yrs)

– Semi-segregated networks

Sub-contracts some of

maintenance activities

Construction

Separate consortia

Semi-segregation of activities (2)

Total-segregation of operations

Construction Operations

Transport Authority

MaintenanceDesign

Transport company (ies)

Maintenance contractor

Separate consortia

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Questions asked within Urban track

> How can maintenance plans be integrated into track construction procurement procedures?

> Is a maintenance programme one of the requirements to fulfil in the call for tenders for track construction today?

> How do the different schemes of track management have an impact on maintenance costs? (In Germany, usually a publicly owned company carries out all operations: construction, operation and maintenance. In France the operations are semi-segregated, whereas in Great Britain all operations are carried out by separate entities.)

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Why is it important to take into consideration maintenance during the tram construction phase?

> Low maintenance cost is a top criteria for many transport authorities when choosing new tram systems (for example for embedded systems)

> Importance of considering not only the investments costs but also the future maintenance costs when selecting the different track components that will be installed (specific maintenance requirements and costs)

> In order to achieve a long-term cost optimization in maintenance plans but also in the whole life cycle cost (LCC) of the element.

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Long-term cost reduction through a LCC-approach

> Before choosing final track systems or components, an LCC approach allows to evaluate overall costs of new tram systems (and not just final investments costs)

> Why is this important?> Because it allows the transport authority to have a more completed information

regarding the final overall costs of the new systems before installment.

> In order to do this evaluation, it is very important to possess sufficient cost information regarding the main life cycle phases (investment, maintenance, operations and disposal) and activities ,

Thus the importance of knowing the maintenance requirements and costs associated to new systems as early as the design phase

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The good timing of LCC

Life cycle phases

100%

80%

50%

Design Fabrication Operations

Cost generation

Cost determination

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Importance of considering maintenance need when constructing new tram infrastructure - case study

Choosing a new track system in Seville for a crossing> System A – slab track system with bi-block sleepers> System B – prefabricated modules

> Which to choose taking into consideration future maintenance costs?

The installation was carried out in the intersection of a tram line with a highly transited avenue

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•Higher investment costs when selecting system B (+60K€), BUT•At the long-run, less overall costs, -37% compared to system A (-146K€ taking into account inflation, €2009)

System A NPV: 400K€System B NPV: 252K€


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Beyond Urban Track…Possible application…

> (Superstructure) product decisions

> Network extensions

> Renewal and refurbishment measures

> Cost driver analysis (cost transparency)

> General identification of cost saving potential

> Modification of the maintenance regime

> Optimising preventive maintenance against the economic background

> Economic assessment of maintenance interval changes

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14

Recommendations

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Recommendations regarding track construction:

> For the selection of the materials for the construction or the renewal of future track sections, apply LCC (Life Cycle Costs) analysis,

> Construction procedures should not be neglected,

> Follow the “keep it simple” rule when choosing new materials or types of tracks

Too many solutions applied do not allow synergies to be produced and result in higher maintenance costs

> Choose proper track covering according to the expected load and use

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Recommendations regarding track construction

> Within complete segregation schemes, allow a minimum amount of time (at least 6 months) between the signing of the maintenance contracts and starting operations,

> Before operations, accurately define the amount of maintenance equipment (road sweeper, track cleaner…) needed,

> Prepare and apply preventive maintenance plans. At the long-term, preventive maintenance plans (regular intervention on the track) present lower overall costs than curative maintenance!!

They include:> Track cleaning regularly,> Cleaning and greasing of the track switches,> Cleaning of the head of the rail twice a week,> Rail welding and corrugation grinding,> Regular rail profiling and pavement sealing> Visual inspection – once a month,> Cleaning,> Passing of the measuring vehicle…

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Regarding track infrastructure maintenance

> Maintenance plans need to be adapted to the specific tonnages, speed, and frequencies of the railways services,

> Possess and update maintenance standards compliant with the regulations,

> Train the personnel on new technologies, new methods and objectives to be reached,

> Implement a tool of internal maintenance knowledge, that keeps track of all current maintenance problems.> the real knowledge of the tracks’ conditions is

being held by a reduced number of personnel (tracks’ conditions and aging)

> when this personnel leaves the network (retirement, change of work), this “precious knowledge” leaves with them

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General recommendations

Keep good channels of communication between the maintenance and the construction department

> The closer the relationship between the maintenance and the construction department the better it is for implementing accurate maintenance plans and for producing more efficient track design.

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Challenges faced today

by Transport Authorities and publicly-owned operators

> finding new ways of financing future infrastructure investments (since public financing is every day more limited),

> assuring the proper coordination and direction of all main activities regarding track infrastructure depending on the organizational scheme

> finding long-term costs optimization and overall costs reductions of all activities (design, construction, operations and maintenance, renewal and disposal).

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Many thanks for your attention.

Documents

CIVITAS CATALIST Workshop · future track sections, apply LCC (Life Cycle Costs) analysis, > Construction procedures should not be neglected, > Follow the “keep it simple” rule