Platform Basket Canada’s Rail Boom Lifts: Exploring Their Road-To-Rail Capability
Most railway maintenance tasks take place in inaccessible locations. To get to the main working area, crews often have to travel via public roads, railway corridors, tunnels, bridges, or remote sections of the track with heavy equipment in tow. Needless to say, this is a major hassle that can be curbed only if specialized equipment is used for railway work.
Platform Basket Canada’s feature-packed rail boom lifts have become the preferred mode of equipment for Ontario crews. A major reason for that is their dual-mode operation, i.e., they are capable of both road and rail travel, which makes them a uniquely versatile machine to have on-site.
In today’s blog, we will highlight everything there is to know about the dual-mode rail-road mechanism of our platforms.
Understanding The Road-To-Rail Capability Of Our Rail Boom Lifts
At Platform Basket Canada, we have designed our rail boom lifts keeping flexibility and operator comfort in mind. Their dual-mode feature allows them to function both as a conventional road vehicle and specialized railway maintenance equipment that can be placed directly on tracks to carry out critical tasks.
That means crews can use them to transition from a public road to railway tracks without the need for switching machines or towing the platform to a rail yard.
This added flexibility is critical for the maintenance of railway infrastructure, as railyards often feature complex terrain that cannot be accessed via conventional vehicles.
Direct track access allows crews to:
- Access remote working areas
- Work along active rail corridors
- Reach elevated sections such as bridges, tunnels, etc.
- Reduce dependence on additional transportation equipment
How The Road-To-Rail Transition Of Our Boom Lifts Works
For crews and contractors that are new to this functionality, here is a step-by-step breakdown of how our boom lifts can be moved from road to rail:
Step 1: Arrive at the rail access point
Railway sites have roads of their own. Operators can navigate these roads by deploying the road travel mode of our machine. This allows them to reach the exact working area without any hassle.
Step 2: Engage the rail guidance system
Once they are onsite, our machine’s specialized rail wheels can be deployed to ensure perfect alignment between the platform and railway tracks. This also keeps the machine level and balanced, thereby guaranteeing both accurate positioning and operator safety.
Step 3: Transition onto the tracks
Once the platform and the track are in perfect alignment, operators can move along the tracks without worrying about safety or stability.
Step 4: Travel to the work zone
Our rail boom lift is capable of moving directly along the railway corridor so operators can move between worksites and carry out required tasks with ease, precision, and speed.
Benefits of Our Boom Lift’s Dual-Mode Capability
Having dual-mode rail boom lift onsite is a major plus point for operators and railway maintenance crews:
Faster deployment
With dual-mode platforms like ours, crews do not have to spend a second on extra transportation to reach work areas. This is a boon to have on busy railway sites as crews get a very short window to complete work in.
Reduced logistical complexity
When a single machine can travel to, operate in the work zone, and be simple to set up, crews can get more work done.
Improved access to remote locations
Several patches of railway corridors can be very difficult to access. Our self-levelling, dual-mode lifts make it easy to access remote locations despite terrain complexity.
Greater operational flexibility
With its articulating boom and precise positioning capabilities, operators can quickly access work zones of various heights and angles without moving the entire machine.
Conclusion
Platform Basket Canada’s dual-mode rail boom lifts allow Ontario railway maintenance crews to bridge the gap between road access and on-track work. Its road-to-rail capability enables seamless movement between varying terrains and environments, thus allowing maintenance teams to simplify logistics, reduce setup complexity, and improve access in challenging areas. Contact us to learn how our dual-mode lifts support railway maintenance activities in time-sensitive zones.
FAQs
Can dual-mode rail boom lifts operate on all rail networks?
Though they have the ability to navigate different rail networks, operation depends on local approvals and track specifications.
How long does a road-to-rail transition take?
While transition times vary depending on site conditions, it takes significantly less time to switch our machines from road to rail use than to use separate transport for the same purpose.
Can dual-mode rail boom lifts be used for emergency maintenance work?
Yes, their mobility and flexibility make them the perfect equipment for urgent repairs and inspections.
