To demonstrate the technical feasibility of the system, Deutsche Bahn and the Netherlands-based infrastructure operator, KeyRail, tested the 1,000-metre long freight trains on the Betuweroute between Oberhausen and Rotterdam for the first time last weekend.
Project GZ1000 is being financed by the Federal Ministry of Economics & Technology. An increase in transport capacity on the current network is in the interests of the German government in order to relieve bottlenecks, for example, on seaport hinterland routes.
As part of the project, the technical, operational and economic feasibility of deploying freight trains with a length of approximately 1,000 meters is to be investigated. The purpose of the trials is to obtain practical knowledge and experience in the operation of very long freight trains. DB operations are currently designed for trains with a maximum length of 750 metres.
Successful trials took place earlier this year between Hamburg and Denmark with trains of up to 835 meters in length.
"Rail freight has a future, because it is environmentally compatible. What is now important is to increase capacity in a way that makes sense, and thus make routes more efficient, and to do that across borders, which means to go international," said Dr Lutz Bücken, general representative - Integrated Systems Rail, describing the company's involvement in Project GZ 1000. "We are managing the research project in the DB Group, because it equally affects both the infrastructure and operations."
The Betuweroute is the first rail line in the Netherlands exclusively dedicated to rail freight traffic. As a hinterland rail link for the Dutch seaports, it offers optimal prerequisites for very long freight trains.
"Longer freight trains not only enhance rail operations, they create space for additional trains," said Dr Christian Kuhn, the Railion Deutschland management board member responsible for Block Train Transport. "By deploying very long trains, network capacity restricted at neuralgic points can be utilised more effectively."
Oliver Kraft, DB Netz management board member responsible for operations added that in order to achieve this, appropriate constructional changes will have to be made to the infrastructure, which will include increasing the length of passing loops and modifying the command and control technology.
