Delegation of International Union of Railways visited Tikhvin Freight Car Building Plant

The delegation of the International Union of Railways (UIC) visited Tikhvin Freight Car Building Plant (TVSZ, part of RPC UWC railway holding). The visit was hold within the Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly UIC workshop "Freight traffic efficiency improvement through the use of heavyweight and long trains" hold in May 21-22.

Representatives of railway companies within the UIC got acquainted with the production of the enterprise, serial and new models of freight cars equipped with innovative Barber bogies with increased axle load.

The representatives visited the foundry and car assembly workshops, where the participants watched the full cycle of car building and were told about the technical and economic benefits of innovative products. The railway technics exhibition included Barber bogies with increased axle load, a multi-purpose drop bottom gondola and a solid-bottom gondola with increased capacity (75 tons and 77 tons respectively), grain hoppers with cubic capacity increased up to 101 m3 and 120 m3, container platforms and other multipurpose and special-purpose cars. To date, more than 18 thousand cars equipped with innovative Barber bogies are being operated at the railway network.

During the visit Dmitry Losev, Deputy CEO for Technological Development at RPC UWC, told the participants the operating results of cars equipped with Barber bogie with increased axle load within the development project of heavyweight transport. Dmitry Losev remarked that the development project of heavyweight transport is essential to 1520 mm gauge.

Summarizing the inspection results of the Tikhvin Freight Car Building Plant, the delegates gave a high appraisal of the level of industrial output and production quality of the enterprise. So, Vincent Vu, Director of Institutional Relations at UIC headquarters, coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly, said: "I was impressed with the production capacity, technological infrastructure and the work level of the plant staff. I wish to emphasize that both national and international cutting-edge technology and developments are used here, and their use allows to achieve high quality products. I am sure TVSZ cars with increased axle load have huge potential. Our common task is to make railway transport highly competitive. The future belongs not only to high-speed trains, but also to heavyweight transport”.