CFL’s train-wash-station
To ensure the well-being of over 20 million train passengers a year, the cleanliness of the rolling stock is essential. For this purpose, it is thoroughly cleaned on average every 3 weeks in the CFL floor washing system. The principle of cleaning is similar to that of a regular car wash – but with much larger dimensions. With a length of over 200 meters, the stand washing system offers enough space to wash two complete electric railcars at the same time, ie two sets of 3 boxes each. Thanks to an ingenious system, the washing system only needs 18.5 liters of fresh water per meter of washed train. A small amount, considering the dimensions of the double-decker passenger cars. The accumulated wastewater is collected professionally and being treated inside the in-house water treatment plant, whose function comes close to the function of modern state-of-the-art sewage treatment plants, where cleaned without chemical additives and then reused, among other things, to wash off the pH-neutral washing foam.
We took a look into the modern cleaning equipment that can clean up to 3,700 meters of train in one day – an impressive washing performance!
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- With over 200 meters in length, up to two 2200 series electric railcars (TER2ng) can be cleaned at the same time.
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- The rolling stock, here a TER2ng electric railcar drives into the car wash.
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- In the control center of the car wash the washing program can be selected. The computer knows the dimensions of the respective rolling stock type as well as places that have to be left out.
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- After the catenary has been grounded in the vleaning hall, the washing process starts at the push of a button. For cleaning, a pH-neutral wash foam is sprayed onto the rolling stock.
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- In total, the washing installation consists of 8 washing portals. Each of them is equipped with four different brushes on each side so that the different surfaces of the rolling stock can be reached.
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- Interesting detail: the different brushes “know” exactly how much pressure is needed for optimal washing performance.
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- 1,000 liters of washing solution are mixed with 9,000 liters of fresh water each …
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- … and transported with powerful pumps in the wash portals.
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- After oil or grease has been removed through the oil separator, the water is stored in huge 10,000-liter tanks where it is constantly kept moving to maintain water quality. Gradually, the water enters reaction tanks, where bacteria let the dirt contained in the water settle down.
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- Check: pH and conductivity of the water give indication for the cleanliness of the water.
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- Before the recycled water is reused for rinsing, gravel filters ensure that the last remaining dirt gets caught.
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- In order to maintain the functioning of the gravel filter, it is regularly backwashed with water. In the so-called filterpress the remaining dirt is compressed and properly disposed.
