Electric alternative
MECHAN IS helping to reduce carbon emissions at a Scottish rail depot after introducing an electric shunter.
The rail depot equipment specialists are supplying a Rotrac E2 shunter to Direct Rail Services’ (DRS) Motherwell facility, following a 14-month trial to prove it can replace a diesel-powered locomotive.
The battery powered shunter, manufactured by Mechan’s German partner, Zwiehoff, is being used by DRS to move flatbed wagons in and out of the depot at all times of the day and night. It replaces a diesel shunter that was louder, more polluting and could only be operated by a train driver. The Rotrac, however, can be controlled by maintenance personnel, offering greater flexibility.
DRS’s head of engineering Steve Wilkinson, says: “We’re always looking for innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint and this new electric shunter demonstrates our ambitions to reduce CO2 emissions wherever possible. It has proved itself to be as useful as a traditional diesel shunter and has been a hit with our engineers, offering more flexibility and zero exhaust emissions.”
Mechan is the sole UK and Irish supplier of the Zwiehoff shunters. They use innovative battery technology to provide the necessary drive to move up to 500 tonnes and have a compact, simple design making them easy to manoeuvre and extremely robust.
For more information, visit www.mechan.co.uk
