GBRf unveils first of three Bayer ‘smart’ weed system trains
A new KFA-based modular train that aims to revolutionise the ‘war on weeds' is now testing at the Severn Valley Railway.
GB Railfreight has continued its collaborative approach to providing services to the national network with the release of its first ‘smart' weed control train from Derby RTC, which has been developed in partnership with Bayer Environmental Science, Network Rail and various other companies.
This follows the operator's deal with Wascosa to provide 570 new infrastructure wagons for Network Rail announced in December 2020, which will include 260 ‘Flex-Freight' modular flats with ‘Mullet', ‘Salmon' and ‘Tench' superstructures (see January issue). GBRf will be providing rail expertise for this project, including end-to-end rail operations.
The new train is formed on three KFA flats, Nos. VTG 95378, VTG 95379 and VTG 95380, all from a small batch of former CAIB-prefixed wagons rebuilt by Marcroft Engineering in the 1990s using recovered ‘Procar 80' bogie car carrier equipment. They also carry 12-digit ERA/UIC-style numbers, although both Nos. VTG 95378 and
VTG 95379 appear to carry the same identity, likely a mistake.
There are similarities with Network Rail's existing fleet of FEA-F and KFA RHTT flats, which employ custommodified 60ft platforms to which various modules are attached.
The three wagons each perform a different role, as follows:
No. VTG 95378 (99 70 9395 003-5) Generator Vehicle (MEN Energy Module); No. VTG 95379 (99 70 9395 003-5) Weedspray Vehicle (MOT Office Trailer Module, MWC Weedspraying Control Module and MWM Weedspraying
Mixing Module);
No. VTG 95380 (99 70 9395 002-7) Water Tank Wagon (AMKD tanktainers Nos. MEBU 328002-4 and MEBU 328006-6).
The various weedspray modules first debuted in Germany on national operator DB's own ‘Spritzzug' spray trains in 2017, four modules of various types being loaded on 26-metre Sggns 183 flat
No. 33 80 4561 189-4 D- AAEC, while an almost identical train formed around
No. 37 80 4561 188-6 D-AAEC was delivered to Belgium in January this year.
Similar again to the RHTT sets, the new Bayer ‘smart' weed system trains will employ GPS tracking that will automatically switch off spraying equipment while in designated ‘nontreatment zones', such as near rivers or bridges.
Cameras mounted on the train can identify particular weed types and select the most appropriate herbicide, which will then be applied in a more targeted manner than previous weedkiller formations. Experience from the German train suggests a 70% reduction in the use of chemicals is achievable. The camera and spraying data will also be recorded to a central cloud database allowing 24/7 realtime monitoring of weed control.
The first train left Derby RTC on June 16 ‘top and tailed' by Nos. 66771 and 66709 working a 6Z59/10.07 Derby RTC-Kidderminster for testing on the Severn Valley Railway, with trials on the national network to follow next. The second formation will be delivered in April 2022, while the third and final set is expected to arrive in April 2023.