It's not just the good priest: railway professionals are also learning to death

VAMAV Kft. As a joint venture between MÁV Zrt. and voestalpine VAE GmbH, it has long been a strategic partner to domestic railway companies and railway construction companies in the field of railway construction, operation and maintenance. The company is not only present in the industry as a manufacturer of innovative products – switch operating mechanisms, locking devices, end position sensors – but also offers its partners design, consulting, maintenance and logistics services.

Six years ago, the company moved on, laid new foundations and has been continuously developing its training system for professionals in the railway operation and installation of sidings.

Curriculum development follows technological innovation

The primary objective of the VAMAV Kft. training centre in Gyöngyös is to provide its partners with up-to-date knowledge for the professional management of its products. Modern slip systems have special requirements not only in terms of design, delivery and installation, but also in terms of monitoring, maintenance and service. The training required to perform these tasks is designed to be based on 30-70% theoretical and practical knowledge.

The curriculum is constantly updated by the trained professionals who deliver the training, based on feedback from the field and technological developments.

Railway construction companies are also interested in training

Training is given in training cycles of 2-3 months. This way, up to 250-300 professionals per year - mainly MÁV Zrt., GySEV Zrt. and BKV Zrt. - can improve their knowledge at the training centre in Gyöngyös. There is also growing interest in training from companies that install railway sidings, which are also increasingly participating in the training programmes.

Due to technological advances, it is advisable to repeat the training every year or two.

The aim is to provide participants with the most up-to-date knowledge and practical skills that they can apply immediately, independently and confidently.

3D visualisation available in a modern training centre

A state-of-the-art training centre has been set up in Gyöngyös, in a separate building away from the noise of the production plant. The theoretical lectures in the classrooms are highly illustrative.

The participants will be able to see parts of a structure that are not normally visible through 3D diagrams and animations.

To deepen the knowledge, a Spherolock unit is also available in the training centre for direct study and demonstration.

Test track also helps practical training

One of the VAMAV training courses, on the operation and maintenance of power transmission systems for excavating structures, has been attended by hundreds of participants over the years. In Hungary, the company is the exclusive distributor of Spherolock and Hydrolink systems, so it was also important to impart the knowledge that will help these systems to operate smoothly.

The VAMAV training centre also has a test bay to provide customers with the highest level of practical training in addition to theoretical training. This gives the participants the opportunity to deepen the knowledge they have learned in theoretical training in a non-operational environment.

The practice-focused sessions will also provide attendees with additional useful tips, as they will be delivered by a professional with extensive experience in the field of servicing.

In addition to maintenance, the technicians are also trained in troubleshooting

The most popular of the VAMAV's training programs is related to the operation of the Spherolock and Hydrolink systems.
In addition to learning the basic principles, participants will gain general maintenance, installation and troubleshooting skills.
To ensure efficiency, the number of groups is capped at 16 participants and the training will be concluded with a test writing session.
Upon successful completion of the training programme, the professionals will be able to independently and confidently carry out periodic six-monthly maintenance of, among others, Spherolock and Hydrolink systems. They will also be prepared to deal with any malfunctions that may occur during day-to-day use, as well as to perform tasks during and after installation. This in turn can help to improve the operational safety of railways and make more efficient use of finite maintenance capacity.