Over the past year, a German consortium ran an intermodal pilot project to assess the compatibility between EcoDuo trucks with rail freight transport. The tests showed that the only requirements for enabling such services concern terminal upgrades to enable the coupling and uncoupling of the trailers.
The project was carried out by The German Automotive Association (VDA), Kombiverkehr, Volkswagen Group, Schmitz Cargobull, Sesé and TÜV Rheinland. EcoDuo vehicles allow for the transport of two semi-trailers with one tractor unit. The test entailed transporting Volkswagen products between Wolfsburg, in Germany, to the Barcelona Morrot terminal in Spain.
‘No additional effort’
Traditionally, all this distance has been fully covered by trucks. With the pilot project, however, EcoDuo vehicles were moved by road between Volkswagen’s facility in Wolfsburg to the MegaHub in Lerthe. From there, the semi-trailers are de-coupled and placed on freight trains taking them to Barcelona and moved back on the road for last-mile deliveries.
“The results of the pilot project also show that the EcoDuo combination can be transported by rail without additional effort. Adjustments are only required at the terminals to enable the coupling and uncoupling of the trailers”, VDA said. The next step is now to put the EcoDuo in regular operations.
To do this, it will be necessary to adjust the current regulation on road traffic exemptions for oversized vehicles and vehicle combinations, the association explained. “The goal is to introduce “Type 6” as a vehicle type for combinations up to 32 meters in length. It is intended to be used on a separately defined positive network, which also includes combined terminals”, VDA added.
