Moving project cargo on rail has its limitations, such as the width and the height of units transported. But recently, DB Cargo had to move a number of heavy units from Italy to Germany, and faced the closure of the Gotthard tunnel, due to an accident. 

First, the company moved some cylinder-shaped parts from Italy to Germany. A 47-ton rotor was carried on a 6-axled flat waggon, followed by an 82-ton flywheel, loaded onto an 8-axled wagon. According to a post on social media by André van Dam, DB Cargo’s specialist for exceptional transports and customised rail projects, these shipments are not as complicated to organise, due to their shape.

The company faced more of a challenge with the delivery that followed a few days later when DB Cargo was asked to move heavy parts of a press by rail from the North of Italy, all the way to the North of Germany.

One of the units weighed 95 tons and was 3,30 metres wide, while the other one weighed 100 tons at 2,95 metres wide and 2,95 metres high. Both were loaded on 8-axled waggons. The challenge, after all the required permits were obtained, was the accident in the Gotthard tunnel which caused a delay of several weeks as all tunnel traffic came to a halt.

Following the re-opening of the tunnel, the cargo was able to move without disturbing regular train traffic reaching its destination. The units have already been unloaded in the port of Lübeck, van Dam added.