Future generations can anticipate the creation of Germany’s second-largest lake. After the closure of the Hambach and Garzweiler open-cast mines in North Rhine-Westphalia, RWE Power plans to transform the area into an expansive forest and lake landscape over the coming decades.

In order to fill the former mines with Rhine water from 2030, a 45-kilometre pipeline will be laid between Dormagen and the open-cast mines over the next few years. A total of 9,120 pipes with a diameter of 2.35 metres will be needed for this underground pipeline.

Special fastening on railcars

RheinCargo GmbH & Co. KG has hired 45 Sggns XLs wagons from MFD Rail GmbH as its partner for the transport logistics of this major project. The newly manufactured 4-axle wagons have a special fastening system, which was extensively tested with external experts.

In the coming years, the 8 and 12 metre long special pipes produced in Turkey and Algeria will be delivered by sea via the North Sea to Brake (Unterweser). The pipes, which weigh up to 15 tonnes, will be unloaded at the port and delivered by rail to their destination in the Rhineland.

“40 pipes are loaded per unit train, two on each wagon,” says RheinCargo project manager Necati Kula, explaining the concept. The first train has just arrived from Brake and the first pipes have been unloaded in Grevenbroich. “This project is setting new standards in the region; this is the first time that pipes of this size have been transported by rail. The project is another milestone for RheinCargo and adds an interesting component to our portfolio”, explains RheinCargo Managing Director Götz Jesberg.

As the lessor of a 100% green-financed, modern and highly available wagon fleet, the Swiss company MFD Rail is supporting the logistics service provider RheinCargo in the realisation of this sustainable renaturation project.

Read more about RheinCargo:‎ https://www.rheincargo.com/

Read more about the project: hhttps://www.neuland-hambach.de/

RheinCargo transports the pipes to their destination in the Rhineland using specially prepared wagons provided by MFD Rail. Image © RheinCargo

Trains are loaded at the harbour in Brake (Unterweser). Image © RheinCargo

The first train was welcomed by the RWE Power employees in Grevenbroich with a small celebration. Image © RWE

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