• Amanda
• June 12, 2017

5 Ways Conveyors Improve Rail Maintenance Productivity

With extremely tight deadlines when it comes to managing rail maintenance projects, saving time and increasing productivity is key. Yet, with health and safety risks, overcrowded machinery and train service disruptions, improving efficiency while maintaining a safe working environment can be difficult.

That’s where rail conveyors come into play and help turn time-consuming and laborious maintenance duties into an automated and highly efficient process. Here’s the top 5 ways a conveyor can improve rail maintenance.

Enhancing Material Handling with Conveyor Systems

Rail maintenance in the UK involves numerous tasks, including laying and repairing tracks, sleepers and track ballast, assessing defects and handling materials and obstacles after weather and reporting incidents. Conveyor belts and systems are a game changer when it comes to these duties and reduce reliance on heavy machinery and manual labour. With a controlled and continuous flow of materials, conveyors prevent delays and improve site management as well as increase safety for workers.

Rail conveyors are also extremely advantageous for maintenance projects with limited access, as they can span across hard-to-reach areas that traditional material handlers simply can’t manoeuvre.

A lightened, less labour-intensive workload means workers experience less mental and physical fatigue and benefit from increased concentration and better judgement. And with their work directly affecting onsite safety, it’s vital that workers maintain focus and stay alert at all times.

1. Reduced Health and Safety Risks

Our railways here in Britain are amongst the safest in Europe, and our rail projects are required to meet stringent standards to keep them that way. Utilising conveyor systems reduces the health and safety risks associated with manual handling and unsociable working hours, in addition to simpler, easier movement of equipment in difficult environments. A lighter, less labour-intensive workload means rail contractors and workers experience less mental and physical fatigue and benefit from increased concentration and better judgement.

During rail maintenance jobs, one of the main risks is workers being exposed to hazardous conditions, such as working near live tracks or in confined spaces. With conveyor systems, teams can reduce this exposure and operate more safely and efficiently.

2. A Time and Cost-Effective Solution

Time is money, especially when maintaining railway networks. Rail conveyors optimise project timelines and improve onsite productivity by eliminating duplication of tasks and adding to a more efficient workflow. Conveyors provide a continuous loop with a loading surface that is available 100% of the running time, transporting materials to and from the track quickly. Less time spent on maintenance projects results in lower costs thanks to reducing the number of personnel and large plant needed onsite.

An additional bonus is our conveyor systems at Coveya are all electrically powered, rather than diesel, meaning companies and contractors can save money on fuel and operator labour, all while producing less emissions, supporting Britain’s commitment to reaching net zero.

3. Minimising Downtime and Improving Maintenance Schedules

Sometimes, maintenance or repairs come at short notice, causing major delays and disruptions to rail networks, with the public facing the annoying consequences. Conveyor systems help keep maintenance schedules on track by providing a consistent way to move materials. Workers will be able to work more systematically, improving planning and resource allocation. While planning for work might be completed, delays can still occur due to inefficient, traditional transportation methods. But with rail conveyor systems, this downtime is either minimised or completely eliminated, allowing maintenance schedules to continue smoothly, benefiting both contractors and public commuters who rely on our rail service.

4. Increased Productivity

With a conveyor system in place, 400-600m of track renewals can be completed in as little as eight hours with 2km of track ballast being cleaned per hour, in some cases! That rate of output and productivity is quicker than more conventional methods. Rail conveyors can transport materials in difficult, obstructed environments which streamlines processes and makes it easier for teams to access the tracks. This truly makes conveyor belts for rail maintenance a valuable asset for any type of operation.

5. Conveyor Systems Offer Greater Reliability and Versatility

Highly reliable and versatile, conveyors are built for the job at hand and suited perfectly for railway environments. They don’t take sick days, don’t stop for lunch and maintain a steady rate of productivity throughout the day. Unlike any digger or dumper, conveyors move in one direction 100% of the time – no wasted time with your machines moving back and forth.

Conveyors can also be custom made to handle the distinct requirements of rail maintenance, including transporting ballast, track panels and construction debris across different terrains and conditions. Electrically powered belts also provide a much more reliable source of power and means teams won’t have to rely on having to monitor fuel usage and waste time on refuelling.

Looking for the Right Conveyor System for Your Rail Project? Explore Our Range of Conveyors Today!

Coveya has over 30 years of experience in providing rail infrastructure engineers and contractors with the ideal conveyor systems to hire for maintenance projects. We offer a free site survey to ensure your planned work can be carried out without a hitch or delay, benefiting your teams and the public. No matter where your planned rail maintenance is taking place across the UK, Coveya has you covered.

Call us today on 0808 169 5982 to talk to our team or send your details to support@coveya.co.uk. More details about where we’re located can be found on our contact page.