Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail signs €40 million contract for track maintenance services

The Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group is a Swiss / Austrian family owned railway engineering service provider, which was founded in the 19th century. Fourteen rail mounted machines, owned by Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, will be used by Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group to deliver track maintenance services to ensure safety, speed, journey time improvements and passenger comfort. These people will be highly skilled Rhomberg Sersa professionals working alongside professionally qualified support staff such as logistics, planning, health, safety, environment and quality personnel, and under Iarnród Éireann supervision. Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group staff will be located at Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail depots in Kildare and Portlaoise and at Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group offices in Kildare. In addition, the company expects to work with SOLAS and Kildare County Council to train a number of apprentice machine operators and technicians.

Don Cunningham, Director of Infrastructure Management, Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail said:
“After a highly competitive procurement process, we are delighted to begin working with Rhomberg Sersa on maintenance of our permanent way. The combined expertise of our two companies and staff will ensure that our infrastructure assets will have the best possible maintenance ensuring longevity and value for money.”

Thomas Bachhofner, CEO of Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group, said:
“Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group is very excited to become the partner of choice of Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail and to commence this challenging contract. We are committed to drive value and efficiency gains for our client and we are looking forward to developing a very good working relationship with Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail. Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group has gained a wide range of international expertise working at the forefront of rail technology developments in Austria, Switzerland and Germany as well in the English-speaking world in the UK, Australia and Canada.“

Garry Thuer, CTO of the Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group, said:
“We are looking forward to combining our international expertise with the professionalism and local knowledge of Irish railway professionals and supporting Irish Rail in the continued development of rail as a preferred and efficient transport mode in Ireland. For the Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group this is a first step to demonstrate that we are the right long term technology partner for Irish Rail”

Issued by:
Corporate Communications,
Iarnród Éireann,
Connolly Station,
Dublin 1.

For further information, please contact Jane Cregan 01 7023803/ 086 8531098