Transportation of road vehicles by rail in special wagons

Car-carrying wagons are railway rolling stock specifically designed for the transportation of various types and modifications of cars. The rolling stock of the railway intended for such transportation is divided into wagons and platforms.

Railway wagons for transporting road vehicles

Cars are one of the particularly valuable cargoes and require protection during transportation by rail, including from vandalism. Therefore, the use of covered all-metal wagons in such transportation is justified, and in the case of transporting luxury cars, it is a necessary precaution. The following types of wagons for transporting passenger vehicles are most commonly used on the railway:

• Russian all-metal car-carrying wagon with a carrying capacity of 42 tons and the same tare weight.
• Finnish wagons for transporting cars. They have a carrying capacity of 15 tons and a tare weight of 35 tons. They do not have solid side walls. Cars are protected from the sides by a metal mesh.
• Ukrainian wagon, specially modernized for transporting minibuses. Carrying capacity — 10 tons, tare weight — 27 tons. Instead of a solid wall, there is a metal mesh on the sides.
• Russian car-carrying wagon with a carrying capacity of 16 tons and a tare weight of 36 tons. The sides are protected by a metal mesh.
• Ukrainian wagon designed specifically for transporting trolleybuses. Carrying capacity — 63 tons, tare weight — 31 tons.

There are also other types of car-carrying wagons. Depending on the type of wagon and the length of the vehicles being transported, car-carrying wagons can accommodate from 6 to 14 vehicles.

Railway platforms for transporting vehicles

Platforms for transporting road vehicles by rail can be double-deck and single-deck. Double-deck platforms are used for transporting passenger cars. Single-deck platforms are used for trucks with trailers, semi-trailers, and containers. The main disadvantage of such platforms is the lack of protection for the transported vehicles from external influences. Recently, vandalism on railways has become a widespread phenomenon among teenagers, and the transported cars can simply be pelted with stones.

The carrying capacity of car-carrying platforms, depending on the types of platforms and cargo, ranges from 20 to 60 tons. All types of railway transport for transporting cars can be rented for a period of time. For organizations that regularly transport vehicles, this is more cost-effective than paying for one-time trips.