MPV VentuS authorised

The German specialist for rail vehicles, railway and shunting technology WINDHOFF Bahn- und Anlagentechnik has developed the next generation of a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). The MPV VentuS type GAF (Gleisarbeitsfahrzeug, track maintenance vehicle) is destined for DB, and was tested together with PJM in Austria in 2024. It was officially presented at InnoTrans 2024, and in February 2025 Windhoff and DB received authorisation to place the vehicle on the market. The GAF is approved on the basis of the TSI from the 4th railway package.

MPV VentuS is a modular system that can be used to create a wide variety of vehicle configurations. The range of working modules includes various cranes, platforms, contact wire pusher, but also containers or contact wire measuring systems. The power system also has a modular design so that adjustments can be made very easily over the course of the vehicle‘s service life and, for example, a vehicle that is currently diesel-electric with a generator and electric motor can be converted to all-electric at a later date.

WINDHOFF had commissioned the Austrian system specialist PJM to carry out the test runs for approval on the German network. As an accredited test center in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025, PJM carried out vehicle tests in the areas of braking and running characteristics as well as static tests to determine derailment safety and wheelset torsional vibrations.

Martin Joch, CEO of PJ Messtechnik, explains: ‘It is important to us, to complete our customers’ projects just in time and successfully. For WINDHOFF too, we were able to carry out the vehicle tests and analyses within a short time frame.’ Extract from the type test standards:
- Static tests in accordance with EN 14363: 2016 Safety against derailment,
- Braking tests according to TSI Loc&Pas Regulation No. 1302/2014 and EN 14033-1: 2014,
- Assessment of dynamic running behavior in accordance with EN 14033-1: 2017 and EN 14363,
- Measurements and evaluation of wheelset torsional vibrations in accordance with VDB Guideline 003.