The rescue shuttle.

The airport's 3.05 km Skytrain route is an "Automated People Mover System" that carries 176 passengers at five-minute intervals. Unique to it is the use of three two-carriage trains that run on rubber tyres. This innovative technology placed particular demands on the rescue vehicle required – and a solution was found in Baden-Württemberg: the choice fell on the Unimog U 423 and the special conversion by the ZAGRO Group.

The ZAGRO Group, based in Bad Rappenau-Grombach, is known worldwide for its expertise in the field of special road-rail vehicles. The road-rail Unimog is equipped as standard with a hydraulically lowerable rail guide, which allows it to travel on both tracks and roads.

However, the challenge in this project was different: the Skytrain route does not have metal rails like those found on conventional railway tracks. The trains run on rubber tyres and are steered by a lateral guide rail – so a special solution had to be found.

The ZAGRO Group converted the Unimog U 423 specifically for the needs of the Kalayang airport depot and equipped it with special technical features: guide rails were fitted to both sides of the vehicle and additional rear axle steering was installed. Automatic coupling rods were added at the front and rear.

The Mercedes-Benz Special Truck is ideal for these conversions – and the modifications turn the special rail rescue vehicle into one that is perfectly adapted for the Skytrain route. The Unimog U 423 also offers space for up to four people in its air-conditioned crewcab and ample storage for rescue equipment.

Everything is in the right place – thanks to ZAGRO, the vehicle navigates the tracks optimally and every move by the rescue personnel is executed perfectly. And how the two go hand in hand is explained by Moritz Engelhardt, Project Manager at ZAGRO: "When it comes to rescue operations, reliability, safety and speed are the key factors. That is precisely why the operators of the Skytrain route chose the ZAGRO Unimog U 423 rescue vehicle."

The high demands placed on this special Unimog are also reflected in its equipment, because its modern rescue technology is second to none: searchlights, chassis and surround lighting, and multiple camera systems on the rail chassis and at the rear of the vehicle ensure maximum safety in all operations. The well-thought-out lighting and safety concept guarantees a fast and efficient response during rescue operations – Indonesia’s mega-airport can rely on its rescue shuttle from southern Germany every day.