New Technology Helps SŽDC Firemen Now

The Fire Rescue Service has been operating on the railway for more than 65 years. It plays a unique role for its mother organization (SŽDC) during exceptional events; at the same time, it belongs to an integrated rescue system. Railway firemen are divided into fourteen units throughout the Czech Republic.

During 2018, Fire Rescue System units of Správa železniční dopravní cesty set off for 7,391 events. This is the highest number for the last five years, by 1,039 more than in 2017. Technical events as their main task prevail – maintaining and repairing the railway infrastructure. In order to be operational in performing specialized interventions, railway firemen must have adequate mobile technology at their disposal. A step necessary for achieving this purpose was purchase of modern fire rescue technology carried out last year for a record price of almost CZK 300 million.

”Such a high investment was in preparation for the whole year 2017. Many tenders took place with a result of purchasing 48 pieces of fire rescue technology in 2018. This concerned e.g. salvage special vehicles Mark Scania which are equipped with a heavy hydraulic set and a unique manipulation arm. The deliveries included also water tank fire engines, container carriers, cranes, technical chemical cars and others. All this equipment satisfies requirements of respective public notices of the Ministry of Interior which set technical conditions for ire rescue technology. The final pieces arrived to the units at the end of last year and the new technology was already used for two thousand keen interventions“, says Mr. Jiří Svoboda, Director General of SŽDC.

The biggest part of the new technology consists in fourteen light technological cars on a Toyota Hilux bogie which set for off 294 times already. This technological car is used for eliminating consequences of wind storms and cleaning the area if railway operation is endangered. The Toyota car in Extracab version with an extended body is powered by the 2.4 D-4D engine coupled with a manual six-speed gear. A 4×4 drive in several modes is a matter-of-course. Hilux has a catalogue equipment Activ; is it being delivered to the Czech Republic in a version up to for five people. However, they have been custom-made for needs of SŽDC Fire Rescue Service by the supplier. All fourteen units used them in full e.g. during the Eberhard wind calamity in March when they set off for 142 events during a single shift.

The most interesting new piece on the fleet is a special eight-wheel salvage car Scania from the company KOBIT – THZ, equipped with a hydraulic arm with a weight-carrying capacity of 2.5 tonnes when extending to 18 metres. Only railway firemen in the whole Czech Republic can pride themselves with a salvage car having such equipment. The vehicle’s length including the plough-share reaches 11.5 metres. It weighs in total 32 tonnes with a possibility of up to 100 tonnes in a set. This salvage vehicle set off to an accident for six times already at units in  Česká Třebová and Přerov; it is currently in training at other units.

The Liebherr crane was acquired by five units; it is in full operation after training completion in České Budějovice and Cheb. Mercedes Atego AP + the chemical container and the platform were used for 52 interventions at five units, the chemical car FUSO was used eighteen times.

Many cars are still not in use, every unit must complete training first before the garage foreman approves including the technological equipment into full operation. For this purpose, approximately 100 km must be run in conditional drives and the drivers must be fully acquainted with running such a vehicle.

Investments will continue this year as well. ”My objective is ensuring operational and safe conditions to railway firemen units for continuous service and interventions, both on the railway and elsewhere. Last year we invested into mobile technology, this year we will reconstruct and modernize Fire Rescue Service stations in Cheb, Nymburk and České Budějovice. In accordance with SŽDC strategy and elaborated action plans, the Fire Rescue Service prepares (based on its approved internal concept) a project for creating a national operation and information centre so that we have still much to do”, adds Mr Svoboda.

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