Route maintenance
Track nurse is the professional title for an employee of the German Bahn AG , the maintenance work in the area of vegetation performs. The railway subsidiary DB Fahrwegdienste is responsible for track maintenance . With their work, track maintenance workers contribute to the functionality of rail traffic in Germany.
Job description
The main task of the track maintenance staff is to keep the track area of the railway lines in Germany free from disturbances caused by vegetation. This primarily includes pruning trees and shrubs, e.g. B. Blackberries . Likewise, tree felling, mowing work in substations , the processing of storm damage, as well as pruning trees are part of the area of responsibility.
The risk to workers is to be classified as high, especially in the case of electrified track sections, since the high-voltage current of the overhead line represents a potential risk in addition to rail traffic . The tasks also include the cutting of so-called " private level crossings " (PBÜ), which farmers use to cross the railway tracks during harvest time.
The work is very physically demanding. Professional requirements are a completed training as a forest manager or gardener .
Requirements
Main tasks
In particular, the power lines and the masts on the railway lines must be kept free by the route maintenance service. There must also be a view of signal systems and signs. Starting from the center of the track (track axis) , an area of six meters is named in which the vegetation has to be pushed back. A so-called U-profile along the routes is also aimed for. For example, no branches may protrude into this profile area. The sidewalks on the track bed are also subject to special care.
After the severe hurricanes of the recent past, a rethink by DB Netz AG has started: In the meantime, a six-meter area plus a surcharge zone of two to three meters is being sought. This zone is called the growth reserve.
Maintenance of private level crossings
There is a high risk of accidents at private level crossings, as these are unrestricted and cannot be secured by personnel. Corresponding regulations therefore apply to the maintenance of the above PBÜs:
- So-called viewing triangles must be created by the route maintenance staff to ensure a smooth view of the rail traffic . Starting from the track axis, one measures seven meters in the direction of the crossing. From there, there must be a view of the tracks to the left and right over a length of 400 m. To do this, all trees and bushes in this area are removed or cut back accordingly. Other vegetation, such as B. grasses is kept short. These measures to maintain the PBÜ enjoy high priority and are carried out at least once a year, usually in spring. The second run usually takes place as part of the annual route maintenance.
Further tasks
The other tasks of a route maintenance officer include:
- Winter service
- Cleaning switches
- Fighting and pushing back neophytes in the track area
- The maintenance of platforms is less common
See also
Individual evidence
- ^ DB Fahrwegpdienste GmbH ( Memento of April 21, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF), accessed on April 20, 2016
- ^ DB tender ( Memento from April 18, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on April 19, 2016