New Life for 25-Year-Old Airport Express Trains
Mantena for Flytoget:
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After an external upgrade at Mantena, Flytoget’s passengers can now travel in train sets that look brand new. Flytoget praises both the result and the process.
Fresh Trains Lead to Satisfied Customers
The Type 71 trains have been with Flytoget since the first trip in 1998. Even though they have been transporting Norway's most satisfied passengers to and from Oslo Airport for a quarter of a century, there is nothing outdated about the train sets. Flytoget thanks their maintenance partner Mantena for that.
"We finance our operations with ticket revenues and operate on the same line as competing train companies, but without state support. This means we depend on satisfied customers. To achieve that, we need to maintain high standards and stand out from the competition. Having trains that are intact, fresh, and clean is a crucial part of that," says Knut Erik Kristiansen, Maintenance Manager at Flytoget.
Punctuality is also essential for the company.
"Delays can often be due to infrastructure challenges, but our trains should never be the reason a customer misses their flight. That's why good maintenance is crucial," says Kristiansen, adding, "Good maintenance is also important from a sustainability perspective, as it extends the lifespan of the trains."
Magnus Sagplass, Contract Manager Surface Treatment, Mantena.
Northern Europes Largest Paint Shop
After many years on the tracks, the surface finish on the popular trains had begun to fade. Flytoget decided to give them a "total makeover" at Mantena, similar to what was done just over ten years ago. After two weeks of pressurized air testing, the trains spent two weeks each in Northern Europe's largest paint shop at Grorud.
Here, both front ends, the plows, and the orange stripes around the doors were repainted, the doors received new foil, and all the steps were repainted and fitted with new step plates. The result is shiny, glossy trains that look new and are ready for many more years on the tracks.
"In our 113-meter-long paint shop, there is room for a full train set, allowing the job to be done very efficiently. At the same time, other departments are all under one roof, giving customers access to all the services they need," says Magnus Sagplass, Contract Manager for Surface Treatments at Mantena.
Flexible and Solution Oriented
In early May, the last of a total of 15 trains rolled out of the paint shop, and Flytoget is highly satisfied with both the outcome and the collaboration throughout the process.
"Mantena has been very flexible and solution-oriented throughout the process. If we've needed a train a couple of days earlier than agreed, they've managed it. And if they've had challenges delivering something on time, we've had a good dialogue to adjust accordingly. They are a very agile team and easy to collaborate with," says Kristiansen.
Sagplass from Mantena reciprocates the praise: "Flytoget is a fantastic customer to work with."
Kristiansen also highlights the expertise and location as major advantages for Flytoget. With their technical base in Lodalen, the proximity to Mantena's workshop in Grorud is crucial.
"Having such a large and flexible workshop nearby is crucial for us. Mantena has both the broad expertise and capacity to accommodate us, whether it's for complex tasks or ongoing repairs. They take all inquiries seriously, which we greatly appreciate."
