Case Study
Engineering & Manufacturing

As little downtime as possible

More than 40 million guests have comfortably reached the top of Drachenfels since the opening of its cog railway in 1883.  Starting in Königswinter, the Drachenfels Railway traces a 1,520-metre route through the Siebengebirge region along the Rhine. In just eight minutes, it ascends nearly 220 metres, navigating slopes with a gradient as steep as 20 percent. The final mountain station is perched 289 metres above sea level. The railway line operates with five electric railcars, each at least more than 50 years old. Regular maintenance is required to ensure the railcars’ smooth operations.

Challenge

Minimising downtime on the Drachenfels Railway is crucial. To maintain uninterrupted operations, the electronic vehicle monitoring systems undergo thorough checks during annual inspections and are repaired if necessary. There is only one company in all of Europe capable of repairing this railway technology, which is based in Switzerland. For such precious cargo, careful handling of components and strict adherence to safety system inspection schedules are paramount.

Solution

To maximise the limited time available for repairs, the German mountain railroad operator consistently relies on Anytime’s expertise. Anytime seamlessly coordinates all logistics, which includes from collecting components from the cog railroad, road transportation to the Swiss repair facility, managing customs clearance and finally, returning the refurbished components. By scheduling maintenance intervals in advance, the repair company in Switzerland is informed about the order at an early stage. Continuous communication with the designated Anytime representative ensures that the German railway customer stays informed about their components’ status throughout the entire process.

Result

After its local inspection and refurbishment in Switzerland, every railcar has been successfully reintegrated into regular service without delay thus far. In addition to its railcars, the Drachenfels Railway also uses Anytime’s reliable service for the maintenance and repair of traction components in Switzerland.

Facts

Background:
Repair and refurbishment of components and vehicle monitoring systems for Germany's oldest cog railroad
Cargo:
Various technical components from five electric railcars built between 1955 and 1960 as well as in 1978
Route:
Königswinter (Germany) – Regensdorf (Switzerland) and back
Customer:
Bergbahnen im Siebengebirge GmbH, Königswinter
Contractor:
MBS Anytime 

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