Coal to Vostochny Port to be transported on Kuzbass-Vostochny Port route by innovative rolling stock

First Deputy CEO and CCO of Port Management Company LLC Irina Olkhovskaya and General Director of Management Company of First Heavy Haul Company Vladimir Sosipatorov have signed a Memorandum of Сooperation to develop the innovative technology for heavy haul freight application on railway network: heavy haul 27-tonne axle load railcars. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2018), the IAA PortNews correspondent reported.

The bilateral memorandum provides for arrangement of coal transportation from the Yerunakovo station of the West Siberian Railway to Vostochny Port using 129548-02 series railcars with axle load of 27 tonnes. All the necessary infrastructure, access ways, and specialized unloading equipment are available in Vostochny Port.

Under the terms of the agreement, first heavyhaul railcars will depart on the route as early as June 1, 2018. So, by the end of the year, Vostochny Port will receive from the Yerunakovo 2,500 innovative railcars laden with coal.

"We use the most modern technologies for cargo handling, receive and operate high-capacity wagons, constantly improving the process of coal product delivery. For example, we have launched a large-scale investment project for the construction of third phase of the dedicated coal complex of Vostochny Port JSC to expand the terminal's capacity to 50 million tonnes. In this regard, we are interested in making the most efficient use of the railway and port infrastructure, including the systematic development of heavy haul freight transportation technology and application of the innovative rolling stock," Irina Olkhovskaya was quoted as saying.

Irina Olkhovskaya explained that the fleet of cars will be used most efficiently on the Kuzbass - Vostochny Port route, since this terminal is the state-of-the-art coal port in Russia.


Application of innovative railcars will save shippers during the summer scheduled maintenance more than 10% of transportation cost.

Currently, about 70% of the cars fleet used in Vostochny Port are innovative.

"Our shippers vote for innovative rolling stock," Irina Olkhovskaya said.

The further purchase of such heavy haul cars will depend on the work of a rolling stock manufacturer Tikhvinsky Carriage Works and the approach of the Ministry of Transport on the railway infrastructure development.

In an interview with PortNews, Irina Olkhovskaya has told that Port Management Company looks into the possibility of operating innovative cars at its Rosterminalugol Terminal based the Port of Ust-Luga. The beginning of their operation is possible in 2019 following the completion of the car dumper upgrade.

Port Management Company manages the activities of Russia’s largest dedicated coal terminals: Vostochny Port in the Far East and Rosterminalugol in the North-West region.

First Heavy Haul Company is the largest operator of innovative rolling stock in Russia. The Company’s business focus is on the export shipments of coal. The company increases the export potential of the country's coal industry by reducing specific transportation costs, increasing the carrying capacity of the Russian Railways network implementing technological solutions for increasing the efficiency of coal transportation by new generation railcars.