Rail Transport System

On this page, the element "Trains" is introduced. We will discuss different types of trains and traffic volumes. In addition, we will show you, in which different ways trains are operating. 

• Type E: Open Top Freight Wagon
  • 2-axle and 4-axle
  • open, solid, high-resistance box wagon 
  • The wagon can be loaded from the top using mechanized loading devices.
  • This freight wagon is designed for the transport of weather-resisting bulk materials: Coal, ore, crushed rocks, etc. 
• Type F: Open Hopper Wagon (Bulk freight wagon)
  • The wagon takes advantage of gravity to unload its contents through two pairs of bottom doors.  
  •  The self-unloading wagon is designed to transport sand, stone and other aggregate materials.
• Type H: High Capacity Sliding Wall Wagon
  • A wagon with sliding walls, which permits easy side loading and unloading with forklifts.
  • The wagon is best suited to transport paper coils, cellulose, sawn timber, sheets of plywood and goods on palettes.
• Type K: 2-axle Flat Wagon
  • The wagon can be loaded and unloaded from the top and via side ramps.
  • Materials can be protected against the weather by a waterproof tarpaulin. 
• Type R: 4-axle bogie flat wagon
  • This freight wagon is designed for the transport of heavy loads of packaged materials or long loads, such as steel pipes, profiles or lumber.
• Type S: 6-axle bogie flat wagon
  • This freight wagon is particularly for heavy loads.
• Type T: Covered Hopper Wagon (Bulk freight wagon)
  • The wagon with swivel or roll roof and sidewall doors for heavy cargo.
• Type T: Wagon with opening roof
  • This freight wagon is particularly suitable for weather-sensitive goods.
• Type U: Tank wagon for forced air pressure discharge
  • This freight wagon is specifically for the transport of powdery, granular goods.
• Type Z: Tank wagon 
  • This freight wagon is for the transport of liquids and gases.
• Type L: Car Carrier Wagon
  • This freight wagon is designed to transport automobiles and vans.
• Combined Transport
  • Large containers and swap bodies

 

Traffic

• For safety reasons, railway lines are divided into sections known as blocks.
• Normally, only one train is permitted in each block at a time.
• The train length influences the block allocation. 
• The permissible maximum (total) train length is 740 metres; this corresponds to about 35 wagons (railcar length of 700 metres without driven head unit) and/or
• a regular train has a maximum of 250 axes. Under certain conditions it is up to 252 axes or/and
• the maximum permissible axle load is 22.5 t and/or the towing weight is 2,500 t.

• Bulk freight trains with special operational treatment up to 5,000 t.
• November 2008: For the first time, a 1,000 m freight train ran between Oberhausen and Rotterdam (Betuwe Route in the Netherlands only for freight trains).
• 2012: Freight trains between Padborg (DK) and Maschen (GER) with a length of 835 m (40 wagons), expanded 2016 to the Port of Hamburg (Hohe Schaar).
• In order to operate a train that exceeds the normal dimensions, some adjustments of infrastructure and operations are required:
  • extension of passing tracks
  • adjustment of control and safety technology
  • extension of block sections

 

• Rhine Graben:  ARA-ports-Duisburg-Koblenz-Mainz-Mannheim-Karlsruhe-Basel
• North-south route:  Hamburg-Hanover-Fulda-Würzburg-Munich-Brenner  (incl. Würzburg-Nuremberg-Passau-Vienna)

• Block trains are the fastest product in the rail system because of the comparatively short transport times without stopping at the marshalling yard.
• The organization of block trains is less complex.
• The coordination of departure and arrival times of block trains is more flexible.

• DB Cargo AG: 
  • DBplantrain is planning the transport requirements a long time in advance, leading to a cost-effective planning. It regularly transports large volumes on fixed routes for fixed transport dates and times. 
  • DBflextrain arranges transport volumes, connections and operating times at short notice, offering a last-minute block train. Customers have maximum flexibility upon order placement.   
• NYK Line Amsterdam-Duisburg: 
  • 80 TEU capacity per train, 6 trains per week (NYK Line)
  • Transit time: Amsterdam - Duisburg in 7 hours 
• Trans-Sibirian container train for BMW: 
  • Regular since 2011, this new transport product enables shorter transport durations for 10,000 -12,000 km of 14-16 days. Compared to maritime transport, only half the time is needed.  
  • 75% cost advantages in comparison to air transport, but 50% above costs for maritime transport.
  • 400 trains with 35,000 containers in 2015
  • Use of customer specific trains as "dedicated company trains“
  • E.g. Trans-Siberian container train for BMW from Leipzig to Shenyang 

• available at short notice
• full network coverage in Europe
• flexible management of freight wagon loading and unloading processes

• accompanied combined transport („Rollende Landstraße“ / „rolling highway“)
• unaccompanied combined transport