Intermodal Rail Transport Solution for Oversized Industrial Cargo

TX Logistik AG, a subsidiary of FS Logistix, and special transport provider Van der Vlist have collaborated to deploy a new rail transport architecture for oversized cargo. The cooperative effort integrates heavy machinery onto regular scheduled intermodal trains operating between Rostock, Germany, and Verona, Italy. The system is designed to accommodate industrial and agricultural equipment that traditionally requires dedicated special transport planning.

Addressing Out-of-Gauge Freight Challenges
Transporting heavy machinery across international corridors often relies on specialized train routing, which entails complex logistical planning and stringent route authorizations. The collaboration between TX Logistik and Van der Vlist targets this operational bottleneck by enabling the movement of out-of-gauge cargo within standard intermodal schedules. The inaugural deployment involved the transportation of two aerial work platforms from the Quadrante Europa terminal in Verona, demonstrating the capability to handle oversized logistics on established intermodal routes.

Bolster System Architecture and Operation
The technical core of this transport model is a patented bolster system engineered by Van der Vlist. This specialized rail platform allows large-scale machinery, such as excavators, agricultural equipment, and aerial platforms, to be lashed down and secured for rail transit. The bolster mechanism integrates directly into standard piggyback operations, removing the dependency on containerization for machinery that exceeds standard dimensional limits. FS Logistix CEO Sabrina De Filippis stated that combining the rail operating structures of TX Logistik with Van der Vlist’s heavy transport engineering allows the integration of oversized cargo into scheduled rail services while maintaining operational reliability across international corridors.

Infrastructure Integration and Routing Reliability
System implementation required regulatory and infrastructure alignment. TX Logistik obtained approval to operate the large intermodal profile in coordination with DB InfraGo. Consequently, freight measuring up to 2,990 millimeters in width can be transported across the network within the standard P400 loading gauge constraints. Operating within this standardized gauge eliminates the need for special train designations. This standardization allows intermodal trains carrying oversized units to be rerouted dynamically during network disruptions without requiring new, specific route authorizations from infrastructure managers.

Deployment and Network Expansion
The initial deployment utilizes the established Rostock to Verona corridor, which operates with eight weekly round trips. Following rail transit to Rostock, the initial aerial platform shipment transitioned via ferry to Trelleborg and completed its route to central Sweden via road transport. The technical feasibility for expanding this intermodal framework further into Scandinavia has been validated. Subsequent deployment phases will focus on shifting the onward transit within Sweden to rail, utilizing the intermodal network operated by TX Logistik AB.

Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.

www.txlogistik.com