Alstom designs trains for enhanced serviceability
Rail manufacturer Alstom is integrating serviceability into train design to reduce long-term maintenance costs and minimize downtime. Feedback from maintenance teams informs design, speeding up repairs and improving operational availability.
Alstom, a rolling stock manufacturer, is emphasizing the integration of serviceability directly into the design phase of new trains. This approach aims to reduce overall lifecycle maintenance costs and significantly minimize operational downtime for rail operators.
The company explains that designing for serviceability means ensuring that train structures and components are optimized for safe, efficient, and high-quality maintenance throughout the train's lifespan. Alstom highlights that insights from their own Services teams are incorporated into the design process, leveraging their hands-on experience.
"If a product hasn't been designed with service in mind, it becomes difficult and costly to maintain over time," stated Morgane Gouyon-Rety, Product Development and Modularisation Director at Alstom. "For example, if access to components is not considered, repairs become more complex, take longer, and incur higher expenses."
Eric Holmes, Vice President of Services Development, added that the focus is on maximizing the operational utilization of trains by minimizing their time in depots. This includes optimizing maintenance intervals and utilizing remote diagnostics for predictive maintenance. The increasing digitalization of train systems allows for near real-time data analysis, enabling adaptive service strategies.