The new 37TN bogie can carry a load of up to 67.5 tonnes per wheelset while complying with Poland’s limit of 22.5 tonnes per wheelset. With a suitably designed wagon, it could enable the transport of loads weighing up to 106 tonnes.
The design makes it possible to transport all types of tanks currently used by NATO member states, including the heaviest versions of the Abrams.
It could also carry oversized civilian loads, such as transformers, energy storage units and large industrial machinery, that exceed the capabilities of standard four-axle wagons.
“At Łukasiewicz, we have designed a solution that addresses the real needs of both the defence and civilian sectors. Thanks to its three axles, the 37TN bogie makes it possible to safely transport loads that have previously posed a major challenge for railways,” said Tomasz Antkowiak, head of the Bogie Systems Development Section at Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology.
Standard railway wagons usually use two-axle bogies. These can carry ordinary freight but are unsuitable for transporting a tank weighing around 60 tonnes.
The project began after an analysis of market demand for six-axle wagons designed to carry heavy equipment. It was funded by a subsidy from the Łukasiewicz Research Network.
A team of eight engineers worked on the project, specialising in bogie design, modelling and dynamic simulations of rail vehicles. The design was developed in line with applicable technical requirements for railway rolling stock.
The institute says the technical documentation is ready for commercialisation and that potential market partners have expressed interest. The bogie can be used on railway lines that permit a load of 22.5 tonnes per wheelset.
The developers say the project could strengthen military mobility and expand Poland’s capacity to transport heavy military equipment and specialised industrial cargo.
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Source: PAP