VR FleetCare and ABB Deliver Complex Traction Motor Repairs to Norway

In 2024, VR FleetCare won the maintenance project for the traction motors of Norske tog's EL 18 locomotives. In addition to standard maintenance, the project has included optional work on the traction motors, such as rewinding and impregnation of the stator coils, as well as complex additional repair works.

Collaboration ensures reliable operations of EL 18 locomotives in Norway’s demanding conditions.

The project benefits from VR FleetCare’s specialised expertise in railway rolling stock, combined with ABB’s knowledge as a motor manufacturer and service provider. Collaborative planning, information sharing, and repair solution development have provided excellent results, especially when initial inspections of incoming components have revealed more challenging faults than were known before the start of the project.

“The project has successfully combined the in-depth maintenance expertise of both VR FleetCare and ABB Motion Services, covering both re-engineering and production. This collaboration has enabled cost-effective and high-quality repair solutions, ensuring that the traction motors of EL 18 locomotives support reliable operations in Norway’s demanding conditions”, says VR FleetCare Sales Manager Joni Kiiski, who is also a project manager in EL 18 locomotive traction motor maintenance project.

"A weekly status review has been held throughout the project with VR FleetCare and Norske Tog. This has enabled us to respond quickly to changing situations and emerging challenges. The project has benefited from both ABB’s expertise and the global and local knowledge of our partners and networks. The collaboration between all parties has been open, flexible, and has worked seamlessly", summarises Sales Manager Asko Koppelomäki from ABB.

Production Visit Provides Insight into the Project

Norske tog visited Finland to discuss the project details and plans and gain a deeper understanding. At VR FleetCare’s Helsinki depot, they had the opportunity to observe the maintenance of VR’s Sr2 electric locomotive – comparable to the EL 18 locomotives – together with FleetCare’s technical and production experts. The visitors also explored the servicing of Siemens Vectron electric locomotives and VR FleetCare’s component service workstations.

From the Helsinki depot, the delegation continued to ABB’s motor factory in Helsinki, where they were introduced to the production processes involved in traction motor maintenance. This included rotor repair methods and quality control procedures. Additionally, Joni Kiiski demonstrated the RAM (Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability) modeling and simulation method. RAM analysis is a modeling technique that helps optimise decision-making regarding lifecycle costs and reliability for complex repairable systems.

Visit provides a comprehensive view of the maintenance processes

"We at Norske tog are very grateful for the warm welcome and insightful visit we had with VR FleetCare and ABB in Finland. Both the discussions about VR's Sr2 locomotives and our visit to ABB's factories provided us with a comprehensive view of the traction motor overhaul and maintenance processes, including repair methods and quality control procedures.

A special thanks to FleetCare for the excellent guidance, both up front and throughout our visit. The hospitality made our trip both productive and enjoyable. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and are confident in the high-quality and cost-effective solutions being developed for our EL 18 locomotives," says Håkon Ellingsen from Norske tog.

After the site visits in Helsinki, the journey continued to ABB’s service centre in Lappeenranta, where the traction motor maintenance is carried out. In Lappeenranta, the focus was on the standard maintenance process for the traction motors and continuous improvement efforts.

At the same time, the first traction motors that had undergone major repairs were reviewed, and discussions were held on the goals and plans for the current year regarding the motors. The customers are pleased to have found a reliable and experienced partner in Finland for both standard maintenance and repairs of their components. VR FleetCare and ABB are actively working together to find solutions that ensure quality and cost efficiency in the maintenance of traction motors for other customers as well.

During the trip, the visitors also had the opportunity to experience Finnish train travel firsthand, as trains served as the primary mode of transportation between Helsinki, Lappeenranta, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.