Finland: A subsidiary of the railway operator VR Group has developed a solution enabling the transport of 1,435 mm standard-gauge trains on Finland’s broader 1,524 mm rail network. The loading and unloading of the train are carried out without uncoupling rom a ramp onto two-axle bogies, one placed under each axle.
In the beginning of January, this technology facilitated the delivery of the first double-decker X40 (Alstom Coradia Duplex) train, from Sweden to VR FleetCare’s plant in Oulu, Finland. The firm secured a contract in 2023 from Swedish operator SJ to refurbish 27 such trains. Initial units had been transported car by car using trailers.
VR FleetCare bogies for rolling stock transportation. Source: VR FleetCare
The company asserts that these specialised bogies will eliminate the need for oversized road transport, thereby significantly reducing the environmental impact. A further cited advantage is a reduced risk of accidental damage associated with the absence of operations to uncouple and lift of cars outside a depot.
