Within the first results of the “Innovative freight wagons” research project, DB Cargo – VTG consortium is developing and testing four new wagon types which, since March, they have already completed 150,000 test kilometers. Under the project, the wagons still have around 75,000 km to travel on Europe’s rails.
The innovations range from the use of lightweight components to energy savings and noise reduction, from customized wagon adjustments to accommodate freight to new digital modules that optimize freight wagon handling.
The research project subsidized by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport (BMVI) with a value of EUR 18 million. DB Cargo and VTG are themselves shouldering all procurement costs for the innovative freight wagons and components, with more than EUR 6 million.
“Our research project is putting high-tech wagons on the rails. We are trialing digital innovations and the latest noise reduction technologies in an endurance testing context. I am pleased at the findings of the initial measurements. They show that all the wagons are well within the permissible noise thresholds and are also saving energy,” Federal transport minister Andreas Scheuer said.
According to automating brake testing, 30 minutes per train on dispatch handling can be saved. In addition, optimized wagon design allowing the increase of the payload and multifunctional flat wagons, make rail transport more cost-effective.
The “Innovative freight wagons” project was launched in October 2016 and will run until the end of 2018.
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