en.Wedoany.com Reported - German TX Logistik and Dutch heavy transport company Van der Vlist Logistics have jointly introduced a new support beam system that enables engineering cargo to be integrated into regular intermodal rail operations, eliminating the need for dedicated heavy-haul trains.
The system has completed its first application on TX Logistik's regular Rostock-Verona intermodal corridor, transporting two aerial work platforms loaded at the Quadrante Europa terminal. Instead of requiring customized heavy-haul routes and separate engineering and route approvals, the cargo was transported via standardized intermodal services. This service operates up to eight round trips per week and can connect to intermodal services to Scandinavia.
The core of the solution is the support beam system developed by Van der Vlist, designed to seamlessly integrate into piggyback transport operations. This system allows large construction and agricultural machinery exceeding container dimensions to be securely fastened to standard rail wagons while maintaining compatibility with existing intermodal handling processes. The two companies stated that this significantly reduces reliance on customized wagon configurations and one-off train formations, which traditionally limited the appeal of rail for out-of-gauge cargo.
FS Logistix CEO Sabrina De Fillipis said that the combination of the two companies' technical solutions provides customers transporting cross-border goods with a "robust, scalable rail solution that simplifies planning." Another operational advantage lies in the regulatory framework supporting the service. TX Logistik, in coordination with DB InfraGo, has obtained approval for transport within large-dimension intermodal profiles, allowing cargo up to 2,990 mm wide to be transported under the P400 loading gauge. This eliminates the need for individual route authorizations for each shipment, reduces planning lead times, and enhances operational flexibility during network disruptions.
The two companies also emphasized that the new model enhances resilience compared to traditional dedicated trains, which are often restricted to fixed routes. Under the new model, cargo can be rerouted within the intermodal network without triggering a new permitting cycle. Van der Vlist Managing Director Martin van Dam stated: "With this innovative system, we have reached another milestone for rail solutions."
In the pilot transport, the aerial work platforms were shipped from Rostock via ferry to Trelleborg, then transported by road to the final destination in central Sweden. TX Logistik and Van der Vlist confirmed that the technical feasibility of expansion to Sweden has been verified, and other corridor expansions across Europe are being evaluated.
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