Rail Freight

Rail freight transport: pilot project launched to test automatic rail coupling

Published

3 months ago

July 25, 2020

Rail freight transport: pilot project launched to test automatic rail coupling. Image: Deutsche Bahn AG

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A consortium headed by Deutsche Bahn is now trialing the use of digital automatic coupling on freight cars. The German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure awarded the contract for this pilot project to the consortium of six companies from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. The project, aimed at demonstrating, testing and obtaining regulatory approval for digital automatic coupling in rail freight transport, will run from July 2020 to December 2022.

Digital automatic coupling automatically connects freight cars, as well as their lines for power, data and compressed air, without any need for strenuous physical work. Most freight trains are still currently coupled by hand using buffer-and-chain couplers; DAC makes this process much more efficient and relieves strain on rail workers.

The consortium is made up of DB, its subsidiary DB Cargo, and five other companies: the Swiss and Austrian rail freight companies SBB Cargo and Rail Cargo Austria, along with wagon keepers Ermewa, GATX Rail Europe and VTG.

“It wouldn’t make sense to manage the EU-wide introduction of DAC from the Member State level alone,” said Enak Ferlemann, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. “We need to find solutions at the European level. The financial challenges involved are considerable, and they are not the kind of thing that companies alone can solve; we will need a comprehensive European program with sufficient funding. The German Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure will continue to support the introduction of DAC, and we have commissioned the DAC demonstrator project to this end. We will be providing some EUR 13 million in funding for this research project over the coming two-and-a-half years.”

Sabina Jeschke, Member of the Management Board for Digitalization and Technology: “We are delighted that we can implement this project together with our strong partners in the consortium. When the digital automatic coupling is introduced throughout Europe, it will be a revolution for freight transport by rail — and an enormous relief for employees.”

In the first phase, 12 freight and tank cars from DB Cargo, VTG and GATX will be equipped with prototype couplers from four different manufacturers. Then the initial technical tests will begin. The results of these tests will determine which type of coupler is ultimately selected. In the second phase, a demonstrator train consisting of 24 freight cars equipped with the selected coupler type will run in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and other European countries. This will allow DAC to be tested in daily operations in a variety of areas, including at marshaling yards.

The goal is to prepare the process of selecting one type of coupler to introduce throughout Europe. DAC will open the door to a system of rail freight transport that is fully automated and digitalized. A coordinated approach within Europe will be key to achieving full-scale implementation of the technology.

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Rail Freight

DB Cargo launches door-to-door service

Published

5 days ago

October 9, 2020

Deutsche Bahn AG – DB Cargo

DB Cargo launches door-to-door service. Image: DB Cargo

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Door-to-door deliveries between Hamburg and Cologne are now available with our brand-new single wagonload product. This service will give customers without private sidings access to the rail network.

Collection today, delivery tomorrow – since the end of August, we have been using overnight express service to transport freight from Hamburg to Cologne for our customer Coca-Cola. This is a combined transport service, which means trains cover the long-distance leg of the route while lorries handle the short sections so freight is delivered straight to the warehouse.

All this is possible thanks to EVplus, our new door-to-door product. With short transit times, this solution opens up the rail network to companies which don’t have a private siding of their own, and it can be used to transport standalone consignments. The service requires practically nothing of customers, as DB Cargo takes charge of organising every aspect of the service, such as supplying the single wagonload equipment (i.e. 45′ swap bodies) and performing first and last mile deliveries by lorry.

Daniel Knaus is the project manager for EVplus. “EVplus combines the advantages offered by our dense network of single wagonload connections with the flexibility of road haulage,” says Knaus. “Our customers see us as end-to-end logistics specialists. Not only do we transport freight by rail and road, but we also supply the equipment for it. This brings us closer to customers and enables us to respond better to their needs.”

The solution that started with Coca-Cola is also available to all other customers, and demand is high. “We have identified a considerable need for intermodal solutions among our customers, especially in the consumer goods industry,” says Knaus. “At the same time, this service offers other business sectors a fast and sustainable alternative to lorry transport. Many customers don’t have a private siding, and we want to give them access to the rail network through EVplus.”

DB Cargo is also planning to expand beyond Hamburg and Cologne. The company intends to use EVplus to link all nine major formation yards and shunting hubs. The ultimate goal is to shift some 170,000 lorry loads from the roads to the rails each year until 2030.

Rail Freight

Indian Railways freight volumes increases by 10%

Published

1 month ago

September 8, 2020

Editor

Indian Railways freight volumes increases by 10%. Image: Wikimedia/ HarshWCAM3

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Indian Railways Freight loading for the month of September 2020 until 6 September 2020 crossed previous year’s loading and profits for the same period.

Until 6th September 2020 Indian Railways loading was 19.19 million tonnes. It is 10.41% (1.81 million tonnes) higher compared to the previous year loading of (17.38 million tonnes).

In this period Indian Railways earned Rs. 1836.15 crores from freight loading which is Rs. 129.68 crores higher compared to the previous years earning 0f (Rs. 1706.47 crores)

Indian Railways loading was 19.19 million tonnes which incorporates 8.11 million tonnes of coal, 2.59 million tonnes of iron ore, 1.2 million tonnes of foodgrains, 1.03 million tonnes of fertilizers and 1.05 million tonnes of cement (except for clinker).

It is important to note that some concessions/ reductions also are being given to Indian Railways to make Railways Freight motion very attractive.

Indian Railways has utilized Covid-19 as an opportunity to enhance its performance and efficiencies for cargo movement.

Container Terminal

Eco-friendly intermodal solution connects Spain, UK and Ireland

Published

2 months ago

August 10, 2020

APM TERMINALS

Eco-friendly intermodal solution connects Spain, UK and Ireland. Image: APM Terminals

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Together with Containerships (CMA-CGM group), APM Terminals Gijon has formed an eco-friendly logistic chain connecting major Spanish cities to the UK and Ireland. The solution uses block trains, LNG vessels and bio-fuel trucks for unbeatable eco-friendly credentials.

Block trains connect APM Terminals Gijon with Seville, Murcia, Valencia, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Madrid and Burgos up to twice a week. Scheduled to arrive at APM Terminals Gijon in time for a Friday departure, the vessel will arrive in Liverpool, UK on Monday and Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday. The service is suitable for all types of containerized cargo, including hazardous cargo.

Located on Spain’s northern coast, APM Terminals Gijon is ideally placed for the UK. “In addition to the clear environmental benefits offered by this service, customers can also cut the time to UK and Irish markets from Spain, compared to shipments made from other Spanish ports,” says Terminal Manager, Miguel Ruiz.

Each block train has a 52 TEU capacity and the potential to remove up to 26 trucks from the road. As well as reducing traffic congestion, the diesel locomotives used for this block train service are, according to statistics published by the Association of American Railroads, estimated to be three to four times more fuel efficient than diesel trucks and lower greenhouse gas emissions by up to 75% compared to trucks.

APM Terminals Gijon is equipped with a 450m on dock track for fast and efficient loading and a separate rail yard with two 350m tracks for optimum flexibility. In the future, the service has the capacity to scale up to a daily service for the cities currently served.