Safer tank wagon for dangerous goods on the market

Wascosa has developed a new tank wagon for acrylonitrile, a dangerous good. The newly developed wagon is setting new standards in terms of safety and wagon design. Hundred new wagons will be delivered by the end of 2020. Due to COVID 19, the start of the delivery has been a little delayed. In addition to the 25 wagons already delivered, a further 75 will be delivered by the end of the year.

The rail manufacturing company is developing the new unit together with AnQore and Tatravagonka Poprad. The new wagon design is a further development of the Wascosa safe tank car®, which was launched in 2010. “Constant progress and the determination to provide the greatest possible safety for dangerous goods tank wagons are part of our DNA and are what continuously drive us to break new ground and to constantly introduce new innovations within the European freight wagon market”, says For Peter Balzer, CEO Wascosa.

Tank protection

The most notable features are the self-supporting tank construction as well as the special headshield, namely the “PS02 Protection Shield” from the system supplier EST Eisenbahn-Systemtechnik. This was specially developed for this wagon.

The PS02 Protection Shield protects the tank in the event of a collision with the wagon next to it or with other vehicles and obstacles. Because it is located far forward at the front of the wagon, it repels dangers to the tank as early as possible, rather like the lateral anti-climb protection above the buffers.

Increased productivity

Apart from safety advantages, the new design allows for an increase in productivity of chemical transport by rail, e.g. through weight savings. This has been made possible by a more efficient use of materials, which was determined by means of calculations using the finite element method and verified in practical tests. Despite the additional, modern safety features, the wagon has an enlarged tank for acrylonitrile with an optimised volume of 93 m3.

Further features of this new design are the derailment detectors, the crash buffers with a particularly long deformation path, the anti-climbing protection in accordance with RID TE 25 a) as well as telematics.