Non-traditional materials to reduce the weight of the bogies

The readiness of the rail freight market to accept the use of non-traditional materials in the production of bogies is being assessed in Tatravagónka Y25LsAL-CK bogie project, for which a feasibility study is currently underway. Railway Supply writes about this with reference to the Railway Gazette.

The wagon manufacturer says that weight reduction and the resulting increase in efficiency and energy consumption is key to further increasing the environmental benefits of rail transport, and the use of lightweight aluminum alloy can reduce the weight of the bogie frame by 460 kg.

This will provide an “attractive” payload increase of 920 kg for a standard wagon and 1,380 kg for an articulated wagon with three bogies.

Investigation of UZ losses during the purchase of diesel fuel completed

The frame is compatible with the standard Y25 design and requires no surface treatment.

The reduction in weight will allow tank cars to be equipped with disc brakes, which will reduce life cycle costs and reduce noise.

The bogie is welded using friction stir welding by the VÚZ Welding Research Institute in Bratislava, which, in cooperation with Tatravagónka, has optimized the design so that this method can be used.

The development under the FR8Rail IV project received funding from the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program of the European Union.

Railway news you might have missed:

The first tests of magnetic levitation are coming soon