Mongolia: The SKD assembly and testing of the vehicle with a payload of 70 t, supplied by an undisclosed producer, took place at the Tavantolgoi Railway repair facility in Gashuunsukhait.
The specially designed couplers are able to rotate, allowing for unloading wagons by means of a rotary railcar dumper, with no need for decoupling. The unloading time is thus supposed to be reduced and train frequency increased. It is noted that the new rotary coupling system is compatible with the SA-3 couplers.
The first gondola car with rotary couplers assembled in Mongolia. Source: MiddleAsianNews
The solution is likewise deployed in other countries, such as Australia and Colombia, on specialised lines with a fleet operated by a single owner.
The new gondola cars are going to be used for coal transportation on the 1,520 mm Gashuunsukhait–Gantsmod cross-border line between Mongolia and China. The line’s construction is set to commence in 2026.
