Germany: The deal was struck by the European arm of the US wagon builder as part of the insolvency proceedings opened last week against the German freight operator.
Greenbrier Europe also picked up the bulk of Helrom’s fleet, which numbered around 220 wagons. The manufacturer has not ruled out acquiring the remainder.
Helrom itself had bought the patent for the technology behind these piggyback wagons, marketed as Megaswing, from Swedish wagon builder Kockums Industrier back in 2019. The design fits the rolling stock with a special module that swings out sideways using a hydraulic system. This lets a road semi-trailer be loaded onto the wagon by the tractor unit itself.
“We see enormous potential in this technology,” Greenbrier Europe President William Glenn told DVZ. He set out plans to bring the company’s engineers in to develop it further. Production contracts for the piggyback wagons, branded Trailer Rail, were handled for Helrom by outside manufacturers. In recent years these included Greenbrier Europe itself and Maschinenfabrik Liezen und Gießerei.
Greenbrier Europe plans to offer the wagons to customers on a leasing basis. Given the strong demand, the manufacturer expects them back on the market by the end of the year.
