Nevomo claims that the roll out of the MagRail Booster solution, which allows for the fast retrofit of existing rail cars with linear motor propulsion, will signify a “leap toward truly sustainable rail innovation.”
As part of the new agreement, the solution will be independently assessed by TÜV Rheinland, with design contributions from PJ Motion. The two companies will ensure that MagRail Booster complies with CENELEC standards for railway applications, meets Common Safety Methods (CSMs) set out by the EU, and meets the industry’s safety standards. The homologation tests follow Nevomo’s own research, testing and development.
“Our partnership with TÜV Rheinland and PJ Motion marks a next major step in Nevomo’s journey. As we move from research and development to commercialization, this collaboration will ensure that MagRail Booster is not only an innovative product, but also a benchmark for safety, efficiency, and reliability in rail transport,” said Ben Paczek, CEO, and co-founder of Nevomo.
MagRail Booster has been developed to enhance existing rail services, enabling traffic automation and infrastructure electrification with greater flexibility, higher frequency of operations, greater capacity, and increased dynamics, according to Nevomo.
The new retrofit solution features electromagnetic propulsion with a linear motor that enables independent movement without a locomotive. Current tests on the Nevomo track in Nowa Sarzyna, Poland, have confirmed its ability to revolutionize rail travel, Nevomo noted, with retrofitted GATX wagons running smoothly on conventional railway infrastructure. These wagons can operate autonomously, either in full trains or individually, and can automatically connect or disconnect with other wagons.
Speaking about the new agreement, Lars Walther, global field manager, rail, at TÜV Rheinland, said, “With our expert team, we can thoroughly assess the new MagRail Booster. We look forward to working with the teams at PJ Motion and Nevomo on this project. Cutting-edge technology and materials are key to improving performance of the rail systems and subsystems, and our certification can lead to the market fully adopting this new product with the trusted TÜV Rheinland seal of approval.”
Thomas Hofer, CEO of PJ Motion, added, “PJ Motion is joining the project to use its extensive expertise to ensure that the design of the MagRail Booster meets the stringent requirements of the rail industry. From the beginning, PJ Motion ensures that the MagRail Booster fits into the operational and regulatory landscape of European rail transportation. Therefore, we work with a database-supported requirements management system from development through production to delivery.”