Indian Railways is planning to introduce double-decker auto transport wagons in next two weeks.
Mr. Manish Thaplyal, Executive Director, Wagon, in RDSO has redesigned the wagons. He says, “The wagon type ‘ACT1’ (auto car taller wagon) can transport SUVs in both decks, as against the one in use currently which can only load sports vehicles only in one deck.” The wagons that are currently in use are known as bogie covered bi-level auto car wagons (BCACBM).
The BCACBM wagon has movable deck arrangement which permits loading of small cars in both decks (upper and lower) and SUV’s in only lower decks. One train with a rake of 27 wagons carries 318 small cars or 135 SUVs.
A train with one rake of 33 ACT1 wagons will have the capacity to carry 330 small cars or 264 SUVs.
These trains can off load large numbers of trucks from the road, decongesting highways, reducing carbon footprints and expenditure on petroleum products.
From conceptual design to detail design and prototype manufacturing, the ACT1 has been developed in a short span time of 18 months and already has the permit to run on routes earmarked by Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited. IVC Logistics Limited (IVCCL), a leading auto car transporter, has shown interest in the ACT1 design.
