The small island of Mauritius which is known for its beautiful beaches is currently carrying out an important major project - the construction of the 37 kilometer long light rail network. The operators of the new Mauritius Metro Express light rail system count on the reliability and flexibility of ZAGRO road rail vehicles. With the delivery of totally four Unimog U 423 vehicles, including two rescue and two work vehicles, the large order has been completed to full customer satisfaction.
The commissioning of the first new road rail Unimog took place on a rainy day in January. The new owners were completely convinced of the absolute track safety and comfortable operation of the vehicles from the air-conditioned cabin. All four vehicles are equipped with a turntable rail guiding device designed for the standard track gauge of 1435 mm, ensuring safe driving in the narrow curves of the tram line. The installed rail guidance lighting is particularly advantageous for frequent night operations.
Safety is paramount in local public transport. That is why the purchase of the rescue and auxiliary vehicles was essential. These auxiliary trains are equipped with a box body containing Lukas rescue hydraulics. The box body is made of lightweight aluminium profiles, which allows the high payload of technical tools and rerailing devices. These compact auxiliary trains for operation on road and rail will ensure smooth rescue operations in the future. The two work vehicles were set up with an ESKA scissor lift for repair and maintenance work on the overhead lines.
With the construction of the new light rail line, the island state of Mauritius wants to get its traffic volume under control. Now the capital Port Louis and the city of Curepipe are connected. The last railway line on the island was shut down in the early 1960s. Therefore, the commissioning of the new public transport system is all the more important for the population. The operators of the railway line assume that after its finalisation, around 55,000 passengers will be transported every day.
The ZAGRO team is happy about the successful completion of the large order and wishes a pleasant and safe journey to everyone on the island.