Bombardier trains to use Cummins Diesel’s Intentia software for remote engine maintenance

Global train manufacturer Bombardier Transportation has just awarded a £90 million maintenance contract to UK-based diesel engine manufacturer Cummins Diesel for the supply and maintenance of diesel engine power packs for 352 trains. Cummins will use Intentia’s collaborative MRO (maintenance repair and overhaul) software to remotely monitor the whereabouts and performance of individual components in the power packs of each rail car, manage routine service schedules, trigger service events in response to faults and provide a lifecycle cost analysis for each part. Bombardier is the main contractor for Virgin Trains and has a 12-year deal with the company worth £1 billion. The contract includes supply and maintenance of diesel electric cars that will make up the new Virgin fleet of 78 four and five-car trains. Cummins has already been using Intentia’s enterprise software, Movex, for some time now, but has also invested in its collaborative MRO software with tracking functionality. The deal shows that aftermarket services are becoming much more important these days. Many manufacturing companies now have to up their game and be fully accountable for the reliability and maintenance of their end product out in the field. Chris Wright, Cummins’ manager of rail business, said: “Both companies [Cummins and Bombardier] are directly accountable, along with Virgin Trains, for delivering a service to the end-user, the travelling passenger. Intentia’s technology has given us both the confidence and capability to mange this complex contract because if we fail to meet any of our daily targets we incur severe penalties. “Our systems will be fully integrated with Bombardier’s and the train management system. The aim is to create a virtual environment where information is instantly visible for all parties to act upon. It will also enable unforeseen component failures to be identified immediately and ensure replacements are available when they are needed at one of the new maintenance centres being built by Bombardier.”