Tests of the eight-axle gondola car model 12-5992 "BAM" with a carrying capacity of 151 tons and an increased body volume of 166 m³ have begun on Russian railways. During test runs, it has already shown an increase in transportation of up to 27.6% and is potentially capable of increasing the throughput of key routes.
The first trains equipped with the new rolling stock set off on routes connecting the Perm Krai and Udmurtia, where technical salt is delivered for the needs of the oil industry. In addition, new trains were sent in the Ural-Volga region direction, where they transported crushed stone for infrastructure projects.
According to Andrey Abakumov, Deputy General Director of UralVagonZavod for civil products, the semi-rigid coupling design allows for the formation of heavier trains without losing compatibility with the existing repair base, and tests confirm the declared technical and operational parameters.
FGC General Director Dmitry Murev noted that the new gondola car should, in the future, increase the carrying capacity of railway lines in the most congested sections, including the Eastern Polygon, without the need for large-scale modernization of the repair infrastructure.
The main effect of the new platform is an increase in the efficiency of trains: a train of 45 "BAM" cars can transport 6,795 tons of cargo. At the same time, compatibility with existing repair facilities is maintained, which reduces the cost of implementation.