Freight trains for tomorrow

In the future, freight cars will save more energy, be more economical and generate less noise. A consortium consisting of DB Cargo and VTG is developing and testing four new types of cars through the innovative freight cars project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). The cars had been in use from March 2018 to March 2019 and had traveled 150,000 test kilometers. The project involved using new lightweight components to reduce energy consumption and noise, making customizations to cars depending on the cargo, and using digital modules that optimize freight car departure procedures.

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Six-axle flat car with a multifunction removable superstructure to transport slabs, coils and containers

A technician registers the telematics box in the data portal - the car goes online.

Some 68,000 freight cars in Germany are slated to be upgraded with state-of-the-art telematics equipment and sensor technology by 2020. 34,000 are upgraded by the end of August 2019, and the rest by 2020. DB Cargo will invest several tens of millions of euros in the project by 2020.

Smart freight cars make it possible to better meet customer requirements and improve transport quality. Equipping freight cars with GPS and additional sensors offers customers an immediate benefit. Thanks to GPS, the freight car's location can be retrieved directly and at any time during the transport to determine the expected arrival time at the destination.In addition, sensors provide information about the load condition and the temperature and humidity inside the car. This is crucial information for receiving sensitive cargo. If rolls of paper contain too much moisture when they arrive at the printer's, they can't immediately be used for printing newspapers. The sensors can also measure mechanical influences, such as impact when cars are being maneuvered. For additional information see here

The digital TechLOK system records, processes and visualizes sensor data from DB Cargo's European fleet of locomotives. In simple terms, locomotives can now say how they're doing and provide indications of potential failures before they even occur. The system has the capacity to reorganize locomotive maintenance and make it more efficient, which increases locomotive availability. The withe the system equipped locomotives can now transmit data about their condition Europe-wide. 2,000 locomotives in 40 classes will be equipped by 2020.

Class 185 locomotives for example have been equipped with the system and can now transmit data about their condition Europe-wide.

DB Cargo is also retrofitting the entire fleet of freight cars used in Germany with whisper brakes by 2020 and is renting low-noise cars in addition. Whisper brakes keep the surface of the wheel smooth during braking, which cuts noise emissions from the rolling wheel in half. 59,000 wagons of DB Cargo's own fleet has already been retrofitted.