United Wagon Company launches mass production of ammonia tank cars

PJSC «Research and production corporation «United Wagon Company» («RPC UWC» or the Holding) (MOEX: UWGN), the leading manufacturer of innovative rolling stock in the 1520 mm gauge area, starts the mass production of its ammonia tank cars, with a projected annual output of up to 1 thousand railcars.

The tank cars designed by All-Union Research and Development Centre for Transportation Technology (a member of RPC UWC holding) have no analogues in the 1520 mm gauge area.

The ammonia tank car (Mod. 15-6926) equipped with a 92.7 m3 tank and an innovative bogie of increased axle load, is able to carry as much as 60.2 tons. The new tank car loads 10 tons more than its standard 74 m3-tank analogues, which allows to reduce the fleet size required for transportation by 20%. The large diameter of the tank drastically increases the internal space. The tank car has shady shielding to ensure safe transportation of ammonia loaded at temperatures below -25 оС.

A 8-year guarantee period of run between repairs, another competitive advantage of the new tank car, reduces the railcar’s life-cycle costs by up to 3 times. The tank car is designed to serve for as much as 40 years.

The mass production of the new tank cars takes place at the plant of CJSC «TikhvinСhemMash» (a member of the Holding). The plant holds a certificate of the Russia’s Federal Budgetary Organization "Register of Certification on the Federal Railway Transport" (FBO "RC FRT") confirming the full compliance of the railcars with Technical Regulations of the Customs Union 001/2011 On Safety of Railway Rolling Stock.

The sector's experts report a high demand for chemical tank cars spurred by growing cargo base and notable wear and tear of the fleet. Freight cars currently engaged in shipments are, in all respects, out of date. The fleet of ammonia tank cars approximates 5.7 thousand railcars. Some 30% of the fleet is expected to be written off by 2020.