Rail truck saves time and money for network rail

Network Rail FUSO Canter road rail vehicleIf James Bond was a Network Rail maintenance engineer, this is what he’d drive.

The company’s latest road-rail vehicles are 6.5-tonne 4×4 FUSO Canters that can be used on both road and rail, cutting down costly and expensive vehicle changeovers.

The 4×4 Canter 6C18Ds have Double crew cabs and were supplied by South Wales Mercedes-Benz Dealer Euro Commercials – the German manufacturer’s franchised network also sells and supports the FUSO light truck range in Great Britain.

They were converted for their highly unusual role by rail industry specialist GOS Tool & Engineering, of Blaenavon, South Wales, and undertake a variety of maintenance duties.

Six are fitted with dropside bodies and PM cranes used to lift sleepers, rails and bags of ballast, while the remaining 14 have box bodies housing welding equipment for rail repairs.

Their double-drive configuration (it’s 4×4, so both axles are driven) and additional rail wheels give the Canters unparalleled flexibility and plenty of traction. Network Rail’s operatives can drive to a level crossing – or RRAP (Road Rail Access Point) to use the industry terminology – then position their vehicle over the train track and deploy the wheels. The trucks can travel along the line to a work site.

These aren’t the first road-rail vehicles Network Rail has purchased. Just over two years ago, the the organisation purchased 29 5.5t Iveco Daily 4×4 Road Rail Vehicles for its support fleet. Presumably the concept has proved a success.

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