EUROPE: VTG Rail Logistics has operated a trial higher-capacity freight service from Hungary to Italy via Croatia and Slovenia. Regular services are now planned, along with additional routes including from Romania. Subject to infrastructure limitations, VTG hopes to offer trains up to 2 200 gross tonnes and 1 600 tonnes payload.
The first train comprised 26 VTG-owned 102 m³ Tagnpps hopper and 94 or 96 m³ open wagons, giving a gross weight of around 2 075 tonnes. It carried just over 1 500 tonnes of maize and wheat, an increase of around 350 tonnes compared with previous payloads.
Starting from Kaposvár in western Hungary, the train ran via Gyekenyes, Koprivnica, Dobova, Sežana and Villa Opicina to Carmagnola near Torino in Italy. Traction was provided by CER in Hungary, RCCC in Croatia and Slovenia and RTC in Italy.
‘We are delighted to offer our customers an even more attractive range of services by way of the new heavy haul train’, said Günther Ferk, Managing Director of VTG Rail Logistics Austria, on November 8. ‘It enables us to make more efficient use of loading and unloading points and our customers benefit from cost savings owing to the greater loading capacity.’
