Isothermal wagon or thermos wagon for shipping by rail

Some cargo transported by rail can spoil if the required temperature regime is not maintained during transit. The wagon for transporting such cargo must ensure minimal heat exchange with the surrounding environment. This is exactly what an isothermal wagon, or as it is often called, a thermos wagon, provides.

What and where is transported in isothermal wagons

Isothermal wagons are used to transport perishable goods:

• Food products, including frozen ones.
• Medicines.
• Perfumes and cosmetics.
• Flowers.
• Other goods that require temperature control.

The geography of transportation in isothermal wagons covers all of Eurasia: Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, other CIS countries, Western, Eastern, and Northern Europe, China, as long as there are railways between the point of departure and the destination. However, transportation towards China and European countries is also possible.

Construction of isothermal wagons

The body of an isothermal wagon is built on the principle of a sandwich: two metal layers with a gap between them filled with thermal insulation materials to minimize heat exchange with the air surrounding the wagon.

An isothermal wagon must maintain a certain temperature. Therefore, they are equipped with iceboxes for cooling and heaters for warming. A specific case of an isothermal wagon is a reefer wagon, which has its own refrigeration unit.

Depending on the class of isothermal wagons, they can maintain the temperature in the cargo compartment at no higher than -20, -10, and +7 °C, with an outside temperature of +30 °C. The carrying capacity of an isothermal wagon is 40-50 tons.

Isothermal wagons can be universal, meaning they are designed for all types of cargo requiring a special temperature regime. Universal wagons include those equipped with iceboxes and reefer wagons. Additionally, there are special thermos wagons for transporting specific goods. In particular, such wagons transport wine, live fish, and milk.

How the cost of transportation is calculated

When calculating the cost of a one-time transportation, its distance, the specific type of isothermal wagon, the weight and size characteristics of the cargo, and customs duties on transit, if the transportation is international, are taken into account. The cost of one-time transportation can be significantly reduced if the wagon is rented for a certain period. This option is interesting for companies transporting cargo in isothermal wagons.