Railway Maintenance Machinery Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Tamping Machine, Stabilizing Machinery, Rail Handling Machinery, Ballast Cleaning Machine, Others), By Applications (Ballast Track, Non-ballast Track), By Sales (New Sales, Aftermarket Sales) and By Region(North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2022-2030

Market Overview

The global railway maintenance machinery market size was valued at USD 3.5 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 6.01 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period (2022–2030)

Railway maintenance is the process of maintaining the operability of a railroad track. Tamping machines, tampers, ballast regulators, dynamic track stabilizers, ballast cleaners, and ballast undercutters are used in railway maintenance applications. Maintenance is a crucial part of every industry that wants to work well. The machinery is used to raise the sleeper and pack the ballast on tracks with oar without ballast to protect the track from wear, deformation, geometry changes, and damage. Machines for railway maintenance are used to keep the tracks in good shape so that transportation and logistics can run smoothly and efficiently. Railway maintenance equipment keeps things running smoothly and gets the most out of the logistics and transportation system.

Market Dynamics

Global Railway Maintenance Machinery Market Drivers

• Growing Government Spending on Construction of Railway Projects

Many governments worldwide are approving new railway projects, such as building new lines or doubling the length of existing ones. In addition, they are committed to keeping people safe by improving rail safety and making the public more aware of and confident in the rail transportation system. Also, China is putting a lot of money into building railway networks. In many countries, big railway projects are in the planning and building stages. For example, the Indian government intends to spend USD 704.2 million on railway projects through 2023. So, the rise in the number of new rail projects has increased the need for railway maintenance equipment.

• Increasing Number of Railway Electrification Projects

Electrification of railways is on the rise worldwide because it is a more viable alternative to other forms of transportation and has environmental and energy benefits. Electric trains are better for the economy and the environment than trains that run on fuel. One of the main reasons electric engines are gaining popularity is that they reduce emissions significantly while in transit and have much quicker acceleration and deceleration times than diesel engines. Governments across the globe are planning to increase the electrification of railways over the forecast period. For example, the government of India decided that all trains would be electric by 2021-2022. In addition, the railway network will be extended by 13,675 kilometers as a result of the project, which will improve the performance of the Indian railway system.

Global Railway Maintenance Machinery Market Restraint

• High Cost of Machine

Some of the machines used in railway maintenance are tamping machines, ballast cleaning machines, stabilizing machines, and machines for moving rails. The price of each of these machines varies according to the efficiency and requirement. As new rail lines are built around the world, like the Yamanote Line, the Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridors, and the Baghdad Metro, these machines are used a lot in their maintenance. These machines require a considerable amount of money to buy. For example, it costs about USD 3.6 million to buy a tamping machine and about USD 2.5 million to buy a machine to clean the ballast. Consequently, the high equipment cost and availability of refurbished products hamper the development of the global railway maintenance machinery market over the forecast period.

Global Railway Maintenance Machinery Market Opportunities

• Adoption of IoT and Internet Services in the Railway Maintenance Machinery Products

Many railway maintenance equipment manufacturers are incorporating internet connectivity and the internet of things into their wares. Compared to old railway maintenance machines, these machines are more advanced in technology. A method based on the Internet of Things (IoT) helps the railway industry reduce downtime and get more work done. Using Internet of Things (IoT) technologies helps keep track of things and get them where they need to go. There have also been improvements to the rail infrastructure and IoT technologies to make railway systems run more efficiently. For example, in 2020, the German government will sign a deal with Deutsche Bahn AG for USD 101 billion to provide IoT-based sensor services to the German rail industry.

Regional Analysis

The global railway maintenance machinery market is bifurcated into four regions, namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Europe Dominates the Global Market

Europe is the most significant shareholder in the global railway maintenance machinery market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.75% during the forecast period. Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the rest of Europe are all considered part of the European region. The passengers mostly opt for more reliable and less risky modes of transportation like the metro and high-speed rail to ease road traffic. The increased government spending on railroad infrastructure in Europe has been a driving factor in developing the railway maintenance machinery market. Harsco Rail Europe GmbH, DB Netz AG, and others are among the most significant German companies. The major railway maintenance machinery industry players have signed an agreement, a critical developmental strategy for expanding and improving the product range.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.16%, generating USD 2,682.38 million during the forecast period. The expansion of the railway maintenance machinery market is forecasted to be aided by an increase in government spending on railway road infrastructure activities. According to the National Transport Master Plan, the government of Myanmar expects to spend USD 21.4 billion on developing new land, sea, air, and rail transportation infrastructure by 2030. Rail travel is popular in countries like Japan because it is regarded as one of the most reliable modes of public transportation available. An increase in electrified rail lines in countries like Japan is also expected to boost the market.

The United States, Mexico, and Canada are part of the North American region. The United States played a crucial role in developing the North American railway maintenance machinery market. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Canadian government is prioritizing the construction of electrified rail lines. Increased spending by the Mexican government on rail infrastructure expansion will drive up the need for specialized railway maintenance equipment. For example, the government of Mexico planned to spend about USD 8 billion on railroad infrastructure.

The market for railway maintenance equipment in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa is analyzed. The railway maintenance equipment market is ripe for IoT technology's introduction in LAMEA. The growth of the railway maintenance machinery market is also expected to be fueled by an increase in government spending on railway infrastructure projects. The development of the railway maintenance machinery is expected to be driven by the Chinese government's increased investment in railway infrastructure in Africa. Additionally, by 2030, governments in the Middle East and Africa expect to have spent USD 530 billion on 143 new railway projects. It will likely stimulate the expansion of the market.

Segmental Analysis

The global railway maintenance machinery market is segmented by product, application, and sales.

Based on product

the global market is bifurcated into tamping machines, stabilizing machinery, rail handling machinery, ballast cleaning machine, and others.

The tamping machine segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.78% during the forecast period. A tamping machine is used in maintenance work on railway and road lines. It is used to pack the track ballast under railway tracks. Tamping machines are cost-effective because they work faster, save time, lower the cost of track maintenance, and increase the track's speed. For example, Plasser & Theurer introduced a new tamping assistance system for maintaining railroad tracks, which helps with work on crossings and turnouts. It clarifies things, improves work quality, makes the process more reliable, and offers things like track surveying, documentation of machine technology, and rules and regulations. All of these things are likely to help this market segment grow.

A ballast cleaning machine is used to clear the rails of debris and grime. The ballast cleaning machine is used for switches, crossings, and plain tracks for railway road line projects. The rising interest in implementing multiple diesel-electric units and electric-based diesel locomotives is expected to drive the expansion of the market. Many reputable businesses offer top-notch ballast cleaning machines. For example, Plasser & Theurer has a new RM 95 ballast cleaning machine for keeping railroad tracks in good shape.

Based on application

The global market is bifurcated into ballast track and non-ballast track.

The ballast track segment owns the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.94% during the forecast period. The ballast track comprises steel rail, rail fasteners, ballast beds, and railroad ties. Ballast track is often used in the railway maintenance industry because it allows water to drain quickly and can grow plants. The ballast track is put down under railroad sleepers to stress the ground less. It costs less than the track that does not have ballast. The market is growing because more rail and road infrastructure is being built, and the government is taking steps to cut carbon emissions.

The ballast-free track is another name for a non-ballast track. The bed of the railroad track is made up of a bituminous and concrete mixture. Non-ballast track maintenance equipment is becoming more popular due to its low upkeep requirements, high train speeds, environmental friendliness, longer service life, and increased durability. In addition, people are increasingly considering railroads for passenger and freight transportation to solve the growing traffic congestion problems and a lack of parking spaces in many urban areas. Several governments are working to replace traditional ballasted tracks with more environmentally friendly ballast-less systems.

Based on sales

the global market is bifurcated into new sales and aftermarket sales.

The aftermarket sales segment owns the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.58% during the forecast period. Aftermarket sales provide spare parts, accessories, and other goods to repair and maintain railway maintenance machinery. Some of the most well-known firms in the railway maintenance aftermarket are Geotech Group s.r.l., American Equipment Company Inc., and Sinara Transport Machines Holding. The market for railway maintenance equipment should benefit from the growing popularity of condition monitoring, optimization, and analysis. The railway maintenance machinery is increasing the range of products it offers to meet the needs of this industry since aftermarket profits are more significant than those from selling new equipment.

New sales include manufacturer-level machinery such as ballast cleaning and tamping machines. New machinery is primarily supplied to the market by firms like Harsco Corporation, Geotech Group S.r.l., and Plasser & Theurer, Export von Bahnbaumaschinen, Gesellschaft m.b.H. Developing countries in LAMEA and Asia are increasing their spending on railway projects, which in turn increases the need for railway maintenance equipment. For instance, Ukraine's Kakhovka plant of electric welding equipment had a K900 A-1 suspended flash-butt rail welding machine. It can operate quickly and under intense pressure. It prevents injuries caused by welding sparks and mechanical breakdowns.

Impact of covid-19

Recent Developments

• September 2022- The rail division of Harsco Corporation signed a contract with Saudi Railway Company worth nearly USD 31 million to supply the company with a 60-stone rail grinder.
• September 2022- Pandrol and Amberg Technologies AG announced they had signed an agreement to form a strategic partnership.