UWC begins supplying 80-foot container platforms to Rhenus Logistics

Research and production corporation “United Wagon Company” (UWC or the Holding) (MOEX: UWGN) has shipped the first batch of new generation heavy platforms for the transportation of containers to the international logistics service provider Rhenus Logistics. The platform can simultaneously carry two containers with a gross weight of up to 36 tons each. A total of 84 cars will be shipped in the first half of 2018.

The model 13-6903 platform on a bogey with 25 tf axle load is designed for the transportation of light and large-capacity universal, specialized and refrigerated containers and tank-containers for non-dangerous goods. The platform is equipped with reinforced folding and fixed container fitting stops to accommodate containers in various combinations. The car has successfully passed fatigue and endurance tests and is the only 80-foot model on the market with permission to simultaneously carry two containers with a gross weight of up to 36 tons each. Combined with the increased (by 5.5 tons) payload capacity of up to 74.5 tons, this allows up to 11 extra tons of freight to be loaded on the platform in comparison with analogues in the Russian fleet. As a result, 82 UWC cars can transport as much freight as 100 standard platforms. This significantly reduces the required fleet of rolling stock while maintaining traffic volumes.

The service life of the UWC platform is 32 years, and the between-repairs run till the first roundhouse servicing is increased to 800,000 km (or 8 years) compared with 210,000 km (or 3 years) for analogues on the market.

The platform — developed by the All-Union Research and Development Centre for Transportation Technology — was certified in 2017 and put into production at the Tikhvin Freight Car Building Plant. Both companies are part of the railway holding United Wagon Company.

Director of Sales and Development of Rhenus Intermodal Systems, Raf De Schutter, said: “Working in the international transport logistics market in Europe and the CIS countries, we have established high standards of work for ourselves and our partners. Our clients expect from us not only a variety of routes and the best ratio of tariff to transit time, but also high-quality and efficient rolling stock, in terms of rail transportation. With the acquisition of UWC rolling stock, we intend to significantly improve the transportation economics. In addition, thanks to the new generation cars, the company plans to continue developing the freight car fleet, increasing its reliability and efficiency.”