MA60
MA60 or Unimat 08-275 NX (build number 6063)[1] is a diesel-hydraulic, self-propelled[2] Switch & Crossing ballast tamper designed and manufactured in Linz, Austria, by Plasser & Theurer in 2013[3][4] for use on Nexus rail infrastructure (the Metro network excluding the track between Pelaw and South Hylton which is maintained by Network Rail[5]).
Nexus invested £2.3 million into the tamper as part of the "Metro: All Change" modernisation scheme, replacing an older tamper[6][7] (Nexus 2437). It was designed to be much quieter than the older tamper. It was delivered to Nexus on 10 March 2014.
It has eight axles,[2] weighs 83 tonnes,[3] measures to 30.34m×2.65m×3.49m (including buffers),[8] and has a maximum speed of 80 km/h.[1]
It is comprised of four cabins. Cabin 1, on the 'A' end, and Cabin 4, on the 'B' end, are the driving cabins. Cabin 2 is the working cabin for operating the tamping equipment. Cabin 3 is the workshop cabin and contains a workbench, WC, rest room and wardrobes. The fuel tank is between Cabin 1 and Cabin 2.[9]
Since being delivered and as of October 2026, MA60 has recorded 706,862 tamping cycles, 8,938.4 working engine hours, and 6,909.9 main engine hours.[2]
Sources
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Plasser UK, "Unimat 08-275 NX" (archived)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "NEX26/48 Ballast Tamper Maintenance" (archived). Find a Tender. 2 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Nexus (4 July 2016). "Metro Train Specifications - a Freedom of Information request to Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive" (archived), WhatDoTheyKnow
- ↑ ontrackplant, "MA60" (archived)
- ↑ Office of Rail and Road (15 March 2022). "Track access agreement between Network Rail and Nexus" (archived)
- ↑ Nexus (13 March 2014), "Nexus unveils its new £2.3m rail maintenance vehicle" (archived)
- ↑ Nexus (29 December 2017), "Long serving Metro maintenance vehicle set for the Far East" (archived)
- ↑ Metzinger, K. (29 October 2013). UD00.1329-9 (Design drawing) (in German). Proposed design for 08-275-NX. Linz, Austria: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H. - via Freedom of Information request to Nexus.
- ↑ OPERATOR'S MANUAL: 08-275 NX (BA 6063) (Manual). Linz, Austria: Plasser & Theurer. pp. B1, B36, B76-B82 - via Freedom of Information request to Nexus.
