Modular drainage flushing system railway (MDR 02 ) – Status update and outlook

Abstract

This article presents a status update of the MDR 02 (modular drainage flushing system railway). The MDR 02 is currently being used to clean the drainage system in the Granitztal Tunnel. The main advantage over conventional drainage flushing methods is that the drainage system can be cleaned while the railway is in operation. Further advantages include increased flushing capacity and more efficient use of resources. Following an extensive planning and tendering phase by ÖBB Infrastruktur AG (Austrian Federal Railways), detailed engineering and assembly of the MDR 02 began in January 2024. Particular challenges in the project included numerous system‐specific components, remote control via the ÖBB network, and conducting tests in the Granitztal Tunnel (GTT) while the Koralm track was in operation. During 2026, the MDR 02 is expected to increasingly perform regular drainage flushing. Simultaneously, planning work is already underway for the MDR 03 , which is intended for use primarily in the Koralm Tunnel.