Mercedes-Benz is going to be a head-turner at the Innotrans exhibition in Berlin in September. The brand with the three-pointed star shall present its latest models for road and rail use. The road-rail Unimog is set to be the rock star of the exhibition.
The Unimog is available with more customizing options than any other series-produced vehicle. The road-rail Unimog caters to railway companies, metro system service providers, urban rail and tram business operations, but also service providers for railway construction and maintenance.
Just like a Lego kit, the Unimog can be endlessly customized to suit different demands from customers from various fields. With a background of working as tractors, cranes, military vehicles, off-road companions, the Unimogs are now converted into trains.
Already available on non-European markets like China and Asian Russia, the all-road Unimog features improved characteristics, such as “EasyDrive”, the drive system allowing variable operation implemented at speed of up to 50 km/h and facile switching from drive mode to work mode.
The Unimog U 423 set to be exhibited at the Innotrans event, with a long wheelbase and 170 kW (231 hp) output, is equipped with an elevating work platform and guidance bogie rail gear. The Unimog can be controlled remotely from the extended elevating work platform.
The Unimog can tow up to 1000 t as a shunting vehicle. The permanent all-wheel drive, the torque-convertor clutch and the rails using the Unimog’s own wheels make it possible. The Unimog U 423 on display includes a wagon brake system for up to 52 wagon axles, the rail gear system and a radio remote control.
Low running costs make the Unimog an economical vehicle, as the means of transportation provides low fuel consumption, convenient maintenance costs and versatility, since it is able to drive itself to the working site and get into the working mode easily.
Another exhibit presented in the event is a Unimog U 423 with a long wheelbase, equipped with a railway crane and work basket, rail gear and a wagon brake system for up to 400 t towing capacity. The crane equipment also includes a clamshell grabber.
The new-generation Unimog is now also available with a fire alarm and fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment. This means that the road-rail Unimog conforms to the strict fire protection standards for use in tunnels where there is also passenger traffic.
