{"id":11836,"date":"2024-02-16T18:34:32","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T08:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=50098"},"modified":"2024-02-16T18:34:32","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T08:34:32","slug":"virtual-coupling-new-technology-increases-russian-railway-capacity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=11836","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Virtual coupling\u2019: new technology increases Russian railway capacity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Virtual coupling\u2019, a new technology being applied by Russian Railways, is showing tangible results. The technology automates the distance between two consecutive trains. It allows for more efficient use of space on the railways and is being used increasingly often.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>According to Russian Railways (RZD), the technology facilitates maximum exploitation of the railways\u2019 throughput capacity. Virtual coupling allows for the formation of \u2018packages\u2019 of trains of various weights and lengths that travel along the same line. The distance between the trains is regulated automatically by the virtual coupling system. It uses an interval of nine minutes at the minimum between consecutive trains.<\/p>\n

In 2023, the technology helped RZD transport an extra 5 million tonnes of freight to the country\u2019s so-called \u2018Eastern Polygon\u2019, the Trans-Siberian railway and Baikal-Amur line. Over 42,000 heavy freight trains used the technology last year, including the first \u2018package\u2019 of five trains.<\/p>\n

Coping with limitations<\/h2>\n

Virtual coupling helps RZD cope with the growing demand for freight transportation in the eastern direction. Western sanctions have forced Russia to reorient its exports eastward, putting increased strain on the limited capacity of the Eastern Polygon rail network. In 2024, Russia will also test the system in the southern direction.<\/p>\n

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