Starting in April, RailRunner Europe will provide train journeys with cranable mega trailers on its railway line between Brunswick and Bratislava. During weekdays and within 18 hours, RailRunner trains will transport the trailers in both directions on the approximately 800 kilometer journey.

The European division of the American blocktrain operator will initially launch a stock of 100 mega-trailers, rendering logistics companies the opportunity to test the advantages of bimodal transport without making their own investment or longer-term rental, it commented.

The trailers

The mega trailers can carry 29 tonnes of freight. With a volume of 101 cubic meters; they are 13.62 meter long and 3 meter high. They are equipped with side tarpaulin and particularly suitable for the transport of packaged, voluminous and temperature-insensitive cargo. A few trailers are equipped with reinforced XLS tarpaulins for test purposes, which also allows for the safe and multimodal transport of tires, big bags, agricultural products and/or LTL cargo.

All mega trailers are equipped with ‘TrailerConnect’ telematic units for tracking and geofencing. Furthermore, load securing devices are stored in the trailer.

Availability

The trailers are available to forwarding companies and transport companies concentrating on ‘terminal to terminal’ transport with corresponding connecting and delivery services. Alternatively, trailers are provided for door-to-door services on single or round trips.

Apart from the conventional route an extended train connection from Bratislava to Curtici terminal can be offered  three days per week, the company indicated.

“With the new offer, we are opening up a new, attractive way for logistics companies in the greater area of Hannover, Göttingen, and Brunswick-Salzgitter and further away to use combined rail transport,” says Gerhard Oswald, Managing Director ofRailRunner Europe GmbH.

European market

Railrunner Europe was launched in 2015 with the aim to introduce its bimodal technology on the European market. This technology includes a mechanism of loading semitrailers onto innovative bogies without the need of a conventional terminal, a procedure it claims takes no longer than two minutes.

The European subsidiary of the American intermodal freight company started operations of its block train connection between the cities of Bratislava and Braunschw in August last year.