OREANDA-NEWS. March 30, 2009. JSC TransContainer and JSC RZD branch, Central Office for Freight Car Maintenance, launched a joined experiment aimed at increasing fitting platform run before repairs period up to 250 thousand km.

Today it amounts to 160 thousand km. According to Sergei Marochkin, JSC TransContainer Deputy Director for Equipment Operation, installing new generation braking systems onto freight cars could increase this figure dramatically.

“When a container-carrying platform moves, it is subject to less dynamic and static force impact than, say, an open box car loaded with coal. Besides, containers are used for carrying lighter cargos, which means that a loaded container weight is usually substantially below the maximum weight limit, and, consequently servicing such platforms requires less effort. Thus even minor changes in their braking systems consisting in removal of tread surface defects as well as wear and tear of car rubbing elements and linkage mechanism could increase run before repairs period by almost 100 thousand km. This is what we try to prove by our experiment,” told Mr. Marochkin.

He also said that this method would enable JSC TransContainer to considerably increase its fleet cost-effectiveness. “The experimental braking equipment is not expensive – a mere 22-23 thousand roubles, yet it helps us not only increase car mileage but also save as much as 35% on all car maintenance and repair services,” added Mr. Marochkin.

Today the experiment enters the final phase. The overhauled platforms have been installed on the express container train Nakhodka-Vostochnaya – Moscow with 7 day journey time. Its first run went without a hitch.