EUROPE: Two Wascosa wagons which use electrical power from the locomotive to power refrigerated containers are being tested by Green Cargo and Schenker on the North Rail Express service linking Oslo and Narvik via Sweden.
The wagons are connected to the locomotive using a head-end power cable that converts the power supply to three-phase and 400 V, and also have diesel generators as back-up power supplies.
The operators see ‘substantial’ opportunities transfer temperature-controlled goods from road to rail. Using electricity from the locomotive rather than a diesel generator creates additional CO2 savings, with generators on refrigerated goods wagons typically consuming 2·5 litres of diesel per hour; the 1 960 km journey from Oslo to Narvik takes 28 to 30 h.
‘This is an extremely exciting and unique solution that would result in a considerable reduction of carbon emissions from Schenker’s consignments’, said Annette Bernström, Wagon Manager at Green Cargo. ‘We have made minor adjustments to the wagons so that they suit the consignments. The tests we are now conducting will also indicate whether further adjustments are required, or if anything else needs to be further developed.’
