INTERGAUGE - Interoperability, Security and Safety of Goods Movement with 1435 and 1520 (1524) mm Track Gauge Railways: New Technology in Freight Transport including Hazardous Products
Overview
Background & policy context:
Technologies currently applied in international railway freight transport through border crossings, where track gauge changes from 1435 mm to 1520 mm, require time- and work-consuming reloading procedures and very expensive reloading appliances. The new INTERGAUGE technology using rolling stock with adjustable wheel sets is considerably safer and more efficient than the methods currently in use, especially for the transport of dangerous materials - gas and petroleum - which are easily damaged while reloading, and of goods that are hazardous to the environment.
There is a need for a transportation method for such goods, which has been expressed at international meetings with railway companies. The project involved research on technological advances and integration with regard to the interoperability of freight transport. It increased the possibility for a shift from road to rail of some of the transport of dangerous goods.
Objectives:
The main objective of the INTERGAUGE project was to develop new freight movement technologies, enabling the interoperability of transport between railways with different gauge widths, using tank bogie car with gauge adjustable wheel set SUW-200 II working at higher capacity and higher speed, as well as automatic new generation track gauge changing station. The new transport technology allows limiting time required for the trains or groups of cars to move through a border crossing with gauge changing station as well to minimise environmental hazards, especially with regard to dangerous products.
INTERGAUGE is a system consisting of three subsections:
1) switching station operation technology and theoretical track layouts for gauge switching stations;
2) rail vehicle with a bogie equipped with automatic gauge adjustable wheel sets for 1435/1520 mm railways with increased axle load to 225 kN and adopted to speed 120 km/h;
3) track gauge switching station (TSP) with automation appliances to automate operation and monitor the switching process.
The INTERGAUGE technology enables reduction of the total time of the transfer of hazardous cargoes through border stations with track gauge change for entire trains at about 70%, and for groups of cars at about 40%.
Methodology:
Following components of the new technology were developed and verified:
- A tank-car documentation with prototype of bogies equipped with wheel sets having gauge-change wheels of the SUW 2000 II system;
- A new generation track gauge-change facility prototype equipped with electronic diagnostic system;
- Scope of adjustments of the existing border station infrastructure where railways with different track gauges meet each other (track gauge-change facility that makes application of the new technology possible);
- Organisation and technology of work of the border crossing station on which track gauge-change facility is located.
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