German Environment Ministry funds VTG rail tank car development

Germany’s Environment Ministry will support a pilot project by VTG, a wagon hire and rail logistics company, that will build innovative rail tank car design for economical and safe transportation of LNG, with a 244.000 EUR financial injection from its Environmental innovation program.

VTG will, in collaboration with Chart Ferox, develop and construct Europe’s first LNG rail car prototypes, for economical and safe transportation of LNG.

“The prototypes will be capable of transporting double the payload volume as compared to an LNG tank container or truck. Due to the excellent insulation properties, LNG rail tank car holding time is up to six weeks. A unique suspension technology between the cryogenic vessel and the undercarriage rail frame required special development, which concluded dynamic and vibration calculation tests,” VTG said in an earlier press release.

Germany’s Environment Ministry is planning to further push the development of innovative technology for safer transportation as well as the noise reduction, through its program.

LNG World News Staff, August 14, 2014; Image: VTG