Balfour Beatty continues investment in Rail Plant

Balfour Beatty has invested over £1.65 million in Rail Plant so far this year, acquiring two Class 20 locomotives and four cutting-edge ‘Track Rascal’ Komatsu PC138US-11 road rail excavators.

The Class 20 locomotives – which run at up to 60 miles per hour - will provide drainage remediation services to critical areas of railway infrastructure along with providing haulage for Balfour Beatty’s wider Rail Plant business. In addition, the locomotives have been fitted with engine pre-heaters to reduce emissions on start-up as well as various other safety and environmental improvements.

Balfour Beatty has also invested in four first-in-class 22.5 tonne Komatsu PC138US-11 road rail excavators which include the latest GKD Version 11 RCI system, conformance with the latest railway standards and operational benefits including dig-depth technology, intended to save thousands of tonnes of wasted excavation over their lifetime.

These machines are designed to work on both Network Rail and London Underground deep-tube infrastructure and are equipped with proportional drive systems, automated diagnostic and brake testing and feature fully hydraulic tilt rotator heads, saving time and energy compared to existing machines on the market.   

All four machines are fitted with a multiple user communications system, where up to four users including the operator can have wireless and hands-free full duplex communications with a range of 250 metres between the machine operator and machine controllers.

The machines will be utilised across Balfour Beatty’s broad spectrum of railway projects in the UK and are ideally placed to improve efficiency and productivity, as well as sustainable outcomes for customers.