MERMEC wins order to supply brand new diesel-electric measuring vehicle to RATP in France

The innovative hybrid electric track-recording car, which has been awarded to MERMEC by the Parisian Public Transport Group RATP, will be the first-of-its-kind measuring vehicle to be conceived to operate also in those areas where air pollution can reach, under certain conditions, a sensible level such as the underground transportation system.

The RATP Group, responsible for the Paris Region public transportation system, one of the world’s densest multimodal network moving daily 14 million passengers, has awarded MERMEC the supply of a brand-new multi-function diesel-electric measuring car. It will further improve the safety, cost-effectiveness and availability of railway and metro lines contributing to the quality of the air in underground spaces during operations.

MERMEC becomes the first railway supplier to market a self-propelled track-recording car specifically designed to turn to zero carbon emissions by using a diesel-electric power pack. Measuring vehicles are typically powered by diesel engines, which guarantee traction in every operational condition either on electrified or not-electrified lines. The RATP’s vehicle represents a fundamental shift on track-recording car’s engineering, in fact, it will use electricity to drive forward motion. On electrified lines the vehicle will shut down automatically, the diesel engine to silently proceed using electrical energy to power large electric motors at the wheels called 'traction motors'.
The vehicle will feature an advanced high-speed ultrasonic flaw detection system to minimize commercial service disruption. The systems will reveal inner defects along the whole length and across the rail section of lines at an operating speed up to 60 km/h.
France is a strategic market for MERMEC, which has established in Marseille its local subsidiary since 2007. MERMEC serves all the major railway companies and rapid transits of the country which use measuring and signaling technologies to safely and efficiently manage high-speed, conventional and urban lines.

About MERMEC

MERMEC is a member of the Angelo Investments Group which operates in different hi-tech sectors through companies such as Blackshape (Aviation) and Sitael (Aerospace), Dreamslair (Cloud Computing).

Founded as a joint-stock company in 1988, MERMEC completed a series of acquisitions in Italy, France and the United States during the first half of 2008. These led to the creation of an international corporation with offices and premises in 14 countries (USA, Spain, France, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Macedonia, Morocco, Turkey, India, South Korea, China, Australia).

With a unique product portfolio of measurement systems and vehicles, decision support tools and automatic train protection technology, MERMEC helps world railways and rapid transits run safe, efficient and reliable networks; while always assuring that their passengers or goods enjoy superior service and a pleasant journey wherever they go.