RCA with revolutionary transport system
18-Jun-2010
Rail Cargo Austria (RCA) enables transportation of semi-trailers by rail – with the ISU-Express from Wels to the Turkish border
On 19 June, Rail Cargo Austria launches the new service ISU, which stands for “innovativer Sattelschlepper Umschlag” (innovative semi-trailer transhipment). With this novel system developed by RCA, the transportation of non-craneable semi-trailers can easily be switched to the railways as well in the future. ÖKOMBI, a subsidiary of RCA, will market this new system. “With the ISU system that is unique in the whole of Europe, RCA has created a new option for switching transportation from trucks to the climate-friendly railways. The ISU traffic to be launched in June is the result of our innovative spirit and offers an environmentally friendly alternative for transport between Asia Minor and Central Europe“, so the explanation of Friedrich Macher, spokesman of the board of Rail Cargo Austria AG.
One round trip in 14 days
The freight traffic research project sponsored in the framework of the EU program CREAM first starts with two round trips per month. It takes the ISU-Express 57 hours to cover the approx. 1,800 kilometres between Wels and Stara Zagora in Southern Bulgaria. Up to 30 non-craneable semi-trailers are transported by rail in 15 double-pocket wagons. This can be increased to four round trips per month in case of corresponding demand. ISU is the connecting link between Rolling Road (ROLA) and unaccompanied modal traffic. “85 percent of the semi-trailers used in Europe are not craneable and it was not possible to transport them by rail without traction engine. With ISU, we have an attractive and environmentally friendly concept of transportation in this segment now as well, which enables the switching of freight transport to the railways“, so the contented comment of Mr. Franz Dirnbauer, managing director of ÖKOMBI.
En route to Southern Bulgaria without third-party staff or engines
With the ISU-Express, ÖKOMBI intends to attract major Austrian, German and Turkish forwarding companies in the first place. “There is demand for this, and we are optimistic as far as the utilisation rate is concerned“, Mr. Dirnbauer said. The ISU train will be available for every shipping company and is routed to Wels coming from Stara Zagora via Bulgaria, Rumania and Hungary. RCA has the safety certificates for owner operation in all countries – this means that only their own staff and engines will be used by RCA or RCA subsidiaries for the ISU-Express through all countries to Southern Bulgaria.
RCA – the hub to South-Eastern Europe
Austria is in the heart of Central Europe. Rail Cargo Austria capitalises on this geographic advantage and is the second largest freight transportation railway company in Europe today – in Central and South-Eastern Europe, RCA is the number one. With the ISU-Express, Rail Cargo Austria offers the shipping industry a new opportunity for an efficient and environmentally friendly exchange of goods between Europe and Asia Minor.