UWC to supply SGGRS80 articulated container flatcars to Deutsche Bahn
United Wagon Company has secured an international tender from European railway operator and infrastructure owner Deutsche Bahn (DB) for the supply of Sggrs80 articulated container flatcars. The company’s primary competitors in the tendering auction included companies from Europe and the US.
In the first half of 2020, a total of 130 cars will be supplied by the firm. DB may place an order for another batch of flatcars.
UWC secured the tender as its design and manufacture of rolling stock met DB’s requirements.
The 80ft Sggrs-model flatcar comes with a payload capacity of 108.6t, thereby enabling it to transport several standard-sized ISO containers, tank containers and swap bodies with a total mass up to 36t.
UWC managing director Maxim Kuzemchenko said: “Designing a car for Deutsche Bahn was a very ambitious objective for UWC. It would be possible to enter the European market, offering cars with a simpler construction for ordinary freight companies, but we decided to offer something more sophisticated because DB sets extremely high standards for the quality of processes and implementation.
“Our capabilities to produce freight cars annually will help European customers to cover their needs in a situation where local producers are overbooked with orders.”
“Within a year, we carried out research and development work, worked on the design with our German colleagues, studied existing European standards, prepared our manufacturing facilities and personnel, and built links with international suppliers.
“I am confident that this project offers our company huge potential on the international market. Our capabilities to produce freight cars annually will help European customers to cover their needs in a situation where local producers are overbooked with orders.
“We are ready to offer all types of rolling stock for the transportation of gases, bulk and other cargos to customers around the world.”
This flatcar is intended to be more lightweight than regular models currently operating in Europe.
Its bogies feature an axle load of 22.5t. The flatcar is intended for operation on the 1,435mm rail gauge.
The cars for the European market will be manufactured at the firm’s production facility in Tikhvin of Leningrad Region.
The car assembly certification indicating compliance with the European TSI standard will be conducted by the end of next year.
Deutsche Bahn procurement head Martin Kretschmer said: “I am very pleased to welcome UWC as a new supplier for Deutsche Bahn. We rely on strong suppliers such as UWC to help us further increase our rail freight business. We look forward to receiving first freight cars from Russia.”
