8% growth
More oversized and heavy loads on Russia’s railways and roads. In the first ten months of this year Russian Railways Logistics, a subsidiary of the Russian Railways RŽD, carried out no less than 290 transports of oversized or heavy goods. The vast majority took to the roads, not to the railtracks.
So far this year Russian Railways Logistics (RŽD Logistics) has managed 290 projects to shift special cargo. The consignments involved sported some extraordinary technical characteristics, including weight (generally more than 100 t) or oversized dimensions. 290 projects represents an increase of 7.8% vis-à-vis the first ten months of the previous year.
The shipments can only be transported on public roads if they adhere to the concomitant national regulations. The transports were carried out both in import and export traffic as well as within Russia itself. The most important customers in this segment include corporations working in the energy, construction and geological exploration sectors.
RŽD Logistics’ develops its business on the basis of a leased fleet of units. For the past two years the company has operated a fleet of 4, 8 and 16-axle low-bed vehicles that allows it to provide a door-to-door services to its customers and eliminate dependence on external contractors.
RŽD Logistics provides special rolling stock and a full range of services for its project logistics activities, including developing sketches, loading plans, loading and unloading operations, carriage with all of the modes of transport and freight escorts.
Project logistics director Sergei Rudnichok said that “an estimated 95% of project cargo is transported by road, as the mode offers great mobility and is cost-effective.”
The railways are used on long-haul routes, however, or to deliver freight to places that are rather difficult to access. The company has also optimised its project cargo multimodal transport systems and introduced a range of new logistics solutions.
Rudnichok is convinced “that this comprehensive approach, including our fleet of units and our ability to handle complex needs, will help us maintain our considerable competitive advantages.”