Currently, investigations are being carried out into various concepts for improving the effectiveness of international freight transport. Increasing maximum axle loads is one of them. Higher axle loads than the currently standardized UIC maximum of 22.5 tonnes have become an economically attractive alternative for many operators of special-purpose wagons when ordering new rolling stock. The author outlines the current state of wagon technology in Europe, presents an innovative development in running gear for four-wheeled wagons and examines the prospects for solving the problems that still stand in the way of increased internationalization of freight traffic with higher axle loads.
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