With sustainability high on the industry’s agenda, Martin Whitbread, creator of The Orange Train Wash, explains how his water-saving product could help fleet managers to meet their green objectives.
The problem with traditional train cleaning methods
Over the last 30 years, very little has changed in the way trains are cleaned.
Traditional train cleaning methods can result in a lot of water being lost. Chemicals are used, and the process wastes valuable time. Due to the hard-to-move or entirely static nature of machinery, depot owners and fleet managers are also restricted in terms of where cleaning can take place.
We were determined, not simply to address these problems, but to change the way the industry thinks about and approaches rolling stock maintenance.
That’s why we developed The Orange Train Wash – because we saw a need for a fast, convenient, and, perhaps most significantly, water-saving alternative to traditional cleaning methods.
In fact, because the system is designed to constantly clean and recycle, it uses just one percent of the water typically taken to clean a vehicle. For fleet managers looking to improve their environmental sustainability report, it’s a real game-changer.
Water-saving technology
We developed The Orange Train Wash with three guiding principles in mind – reduce, reuse and recycle.
Simply put, the system is designed to recycle 90% of its resources, filtering, deionising and reusing the same water. This makes it both cost-effective and environmentally friendly – priorities for our increasingly green-minded customers.
Imagine an eight-car train arriving at the depot at the end of a long, busy day. The train, covered in dust and detritus, pulls up a road different to yesterday – the depot has a new maintenance project underway.
Small orange units sit at either side of the track. Each one is only three metres by one metre. As the train approaches, powerful motors lift part of the cleaning units up into place – and then 60 jets fire into life, with deionised, 85-degree water blasting away a day’s worth of dirt. Powerful rotating brushes buff the train to a shining finish.
Each carriage on the train takes just 22 seconds to clean. In four minutes, the whole train is done.
And, crucially, the water from the wash is nowhere in sight. Powerful air blades have pushed it down into a track pan for recycling.
Because, throughout its efficient cycle, the water’s temperature is always kept at a comfortable 20 degrees, there’s no danger of the machine failing to work. A common pitfall is when water drops below a certain level – three degrees – and the washer is out of commission for a time.
And when the work is done, the unit is simple to maintain.
Its filtration system is set on a sliding door, allowing for an effortless change-over process. This, in turn, means that the water is kept perfect for the job, time after time.
Everything is designed to be as convenient as possible, and the whole patented system is overseen by software that integrates features into one package – a plus for busy depot owners and fleet managers.
Software for sustainability
With climate regulations evolving constantly, a growing number of businesses are looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Technology like The Orange Train Wash can help them to achieve this, saving, not just time and money, but valuable resources.
The system even provides accurate reports on carbon and water savings, which are sent directly to your desktop. These reports won’t just impress your shareholders – they can be used as evidential material in your environmental sustainability reports.
For more information on The Orange Train Wash’s game-changing technology, visit https://theorangetrainwash.com/
