Shipped between Antwerp’s Combinant terminal and London-Barking, the test train brought its maiden consignment of “Euro-Megatrailers” to the UK.

In common use in continental Europe, these large-volume units were loaded on some of the 6-axle “Sdggmrss Twin” wagons of the AAE Ahaus Alstätter Eisenbahn AG. These special wagons have been designed and manufactured to carry modern road trailers. They have two particular features, the first of which is a specially lowered loading surface, which is just 27 cm above the railhead by contrast with the 115.5 cm of a standard container wagon, and the second, their 270 cm-wide recesses or “pockets” that can accommodate the trailers with their major components still in place.

Speaking after the arrival and inspection of the test train at the Russell Railfreight Terminal in the East London district of Barking, AAE Director Ole Nygaard commented: “With these wagons our customers will be able to conquer new markets. There is huge potential in the UK for transferring mega-trailers from road to rail”. By way of example, he quoted long-haul services between Germany or eastern Europe and the UK.

Ole Nygaard