Transportation costs affect the price of any goods we buy, so reducing them could help our pockets. Road transportation is becoming more efficient with constant innovations, but what about the railroads?
Futuris has been investigating how a European research project is helping to get train freight back on track.
At a test site in Romania, engineers have been trying out an upgraded freight wagon, one that runs faster and carries a larger load than usual. Many parameters are analysed, including the braking distance.
“This braking distance test is very important. A railway vehicle should remain within a limited braking distance, otherwise there’s a risk of accidents and other railway safety issues,” explained Marius-Ovidiu Ene, a rolling stock laboratory expert from the AFER (Romanian Railway Authority).
Innovations are being used to make a wagon lighter and reduce damage to the tracks. Sensors and other smart technologies are also in place to monitor the condition of the wagon
