A Russian rail car producer has gained access to innovative technology that will allow trains to carry heavier loads of freight. Obedinennaya Vagonnaya Kompania (United Wagon Co) has signed an agreement with Amsted Rail of the US to receive full intellectual property rights to its Motion Control bogie design, which the Russian manufacturer can also license to other companies. The partnership also looks to establish a joint venture for designing and manufacturing freight car components. The new model, which allows loads up to 25 t per axle, was explicitly adapted by Amsted Rail engineers for freight railcars operating on the 1,520 mm gauge tracks used in Russia and other CIS countries. Conventional freight wagons have a lower axle load, with average upper limits of around 23 t. Heavier freight load means lower transportation costs for carriers but will require rail infrastructure upgrades.

The government has prepared a program of heavy freight transport development in Russia and is considering granting discounts to companies that buy wagons capable of carrying heavier load, news reports said. The Russian Times reported thatTransportation Minister Maxim Sokolov said earlier that increasing railway load capacity on tracks between the coal mining region of Kuzbass and Russia’s sea ports should be considered a government priority.