Eurosib and UWC strengthen partnership with new contract

Eurosib SPb – Transport Systems and United Wagon Company (UWC) have signed a contract for the production and supply of 400 new generation container platforms at the 24th International Exhibition for Transport and Logistics Services and Technologies “TransRussia”.

The 13-6903 model will be manufactured at UWC's own site, Tikhvin Freight Car Building Plant, with the railcars to be delivered to the railway operator on a monthly basis, from June 2019 through February 2020.

The container platforms mounted on 25-tf bogies show advanced performance. With a payload capacity of 74.5 t and a loading length of 80 feet they can carry high-capacity containers, including refrigerated containers and tank containers with a gross mass of up to 36 t. An increased mileage of up to 1 million km (or 8 years) between overhauls significantly reduces life-cycle maintenance costs of the container platform.

Eurosib and UWC are long-time business partners. Eurosib had been leasing 285 platforms made by UWC for three years before purchasing them from the manufacturer in 2017. In 2018 an agreement was signed on the supply of 500 platforms, with the delivery expected to be completed by May 2019.

“At present, the share of UWC freight cars in Eurosib's container platform fleet stands at 70%. With the new contract signed, the figure will grow. The rolling stock from the Tikhvin producers allows us not only to save on operational expenses, but also to roll out new container services and bolster existing ones. Local regulations for allocating and securing TEUs have already been cleared for the container platforms, so that we can start operating the new railcars as soon as they are delivered,” said Sergey Kondratenko, Deputy CEO for projects and technical policies at Eurosib SPb – Transport Systems and CEO at ERVK.

Alexander Lukyanenko, Deputy CEO for Sales and Development at UWC said, “We are pleased with Eurosib's opting for Tikhvin's freight cars. Our companies have a strong and long-standing partnership, and we hope to develop this partnership further with other types of rolling stock.”