Zbornik radova Koridor 10 - Kirilo Savić

3rd International Scientific and Professional Conference
CORRIDOR 10 - a sustainable way of integrations
Figure 2-1: An example of the technology “A” (unloading)
Source: Hungarokombi, 2012
2.2 TECHNOLOGY “B”
Intermodal transport of the B technology presents the carriage of trailers and semi trailers by rail
without the articulated vehicle and drivers of trucks.
Loading and unloading of wagons can be carried out in two ways (Zelenika, 2001):
horizontally (by means of a special articulated vehicle, semi trailers and trailers are driven
in reverse over the loading ramp onto intermodal spine wagons) and
vertically (by means of a container grappler lift with a special gripper bar onto special
pocket wagons).
The vertical system of handling is more often used as it has certain advantages over the horizontal
technique, which are the following:
it is not necessary to equip wagons with additional devices;
the dead load of a train is lower;
handling is faster (horizontal handling of a semi trailer: 10 minutes; vertical: 4 minutes);
independence between the delivery and conveyance and loading on wagons – shorter
waiting time for the articulated vehicles, and
minimum tyre wear in the case of vertical handling.
The abovementioned advantages of the vertical handling are most noticeable when using uniform
pocket wagons with a dead load which is for 8 tonnes lower than the one of the intermodal spine
wagons. In addition to trailers and semi-trailers they also enable the carriage of swap bodies and
containers. The undisturbed transport of trailers and semi-trailers by rail depends on track gauge and
types of wagons. Intermodal spine wagons for horizontal loading are slightly higher than pocket
wagons for vertical loading. So, the “piggy-back” semi-trailers may be higher by 8 to 10 cm when
carried by pocket wagons on the same track gauge than when carried with spine wagons.
Belgrade, 2012 188