A rail bogie capable of carrying the weight of a tank designed in Poznań
- Edited by M.K.
- Kategoria: English zone
Engineers from the Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology have designed a rail bogie capable of carrying oversized loads. The project responds to market needs reported in recent years by both the defence industry and the civilian sector for the safe rail transport of exceptionally heavy equipment. The design is ready for implementation and will allow the transport of tanks, armoured vehicles, energy storage systems and large industrial machinery.
Transporting oversized cargo by rail has long been a challenge, particularly for industries requiring heavy equipment transport. Since 2023, researchers at the Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology have been working on a three-axle bogie that can be used in various freight wagons, including those intended for military transport. The project, financed through a state subsidy, has resulted in a solution ready for commercialisation, primarily by Polish rolling stock manufacturers.
Bogie systems, which support the bodies of wagons, locomotives and rail platforms, typically consist of two wheelsets. In Poland, the maximum load per wheelset is currently 22.5 tonnes.
Researchers from the Poznań institute have developed a specialised three-axle bogie which, when used in a dedicated wagon, will enable the transport of any tank currently operated by NATO forces.
Rail plays a leading role in transporting military equipment because it is best suited for moving very heavy and oversized loads. The current geopolitical situation requires us to be prepared for such transport operations - explains Tomasz Antkowiak from the Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology, who led the design team.
The bogie designed by the Poznań researchers features a lightweight yet durable structure. Its advantages include a relatively simple design and full readiness for implementation. The institute is currently looking for business partners from both the defence and civilian sectors.
The solution is not limited to military applications. The 37TN bogie can also be used in civilian transport wherever oversized cargo must be moved. With an appropriately designed wagon, it will allow the transport of specialised machinery, long loads such as rails or timber beams, and energy storage systems.
Currently, none of the Polish manufacturers produce six-axle wagons, let alone three-axle bogies. Poland lacks wagons capable of transporting extremely heavy goods. The advantage of our bogie is that its use is not limited to military applications and it can also serve civilian transport. This will benefit the Polish industry, enabling it to compete with Western manufacturers - adds Tomasz Antkowiak.
The 37TN bogie can reach a maximum speed of 100 km/h (120 km/h when empty). It complies with the latest Technical Specifications for Interoperability for freight wagons (TSI WAG). The completed design and maintenance documentation allows production to begin immediately.