New Zealand state railway KiwiRail has awarded a contract to Italian company Mermec to supply a new track inspection vehicle. The vehicle will be able to realise comprehensive track analyses in real time using 12 inspection and measurement systems, including lasers, cameras, and other sensors. KiwiRail's previous track inspection vehicle, which was 41 years old, broke down in 2023 and was unable to complete planned assessments. This resulted in speed restrictions and several days of service disruption.
