4 ms·

A truck that can drive on roads and also hop on rails sounds much more complex than an EV truck that can charge from an electric line above highway when availab

by yreg 4y ago

A truck that can drive on roads and also hop on rails sounds much more complex than an EV truck that can charge from an electric line above highway when available.

codesnik 4y ago
Whole truck doesn't have to hop on rails. This thing exists: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadrailer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadrailer
- yreg 4y ago
  That's admittedly cool. However, you then need to have multiple tractor units with drivers in multiple cities + also the train engine, all coordinating for the handovers. I'm definitely not saying EV trucks with batteries + trolleys are better, but there is some simplicity that's not replicated with the rail solutions. And I have read sofixa's (somewhat mocking) comment as if they are saying that rail is simpler.
CaptainZapp 4y ago
Sorry, can't find anything in English on the quick. But loading whole trucks on trains definitely exist, is logistically not very complex and a major component of North / South (and vice versa) freight transit through the alps. Here's a picture : https://www.eurotransport.de/artikel/kombinierter-verkehr-rola-terminal-in-freiburg-modernisiert-8854379.html https://www.eurotransport.de/artikel/kombinierter-verkehr-ro...
- yreg 4y ago
  That's smart, but why isn't it done everywhere?
  - CaptainZapp 4y ago
    It's only really sensible for long distance transportation. I'm making assumptions here. But lets' say loading the trucks and the wait until the train leaves takes 90 minutes. Unloading them at destination takes another 30 minutes (again, I don't know the real figures, but this feels somewhat realistic). So, there will be a certain not insignificant amount of time being lost before the train moves. Time, which is valuable in the transportation business. Another reason may be that it's really geared for specific topological environments. There are few routes through the alps and they universally require tunnels (there are mountain pass routes, but those are closed in winter and partially inaccessible for trucks). Such a situation invites such logistical solutions. Add to this that Switzerland is one of the main transit countries through the alps and that - with very few exceptions - trucks are not permitted to drive at night (after 10pm) or on Sundays. So, loading your truck onto a train and blitz from Freiburg (Germany) straight to Genoa by train may make a lot of sense. The situation is not quite as ideal as described here. While it's definitely a goal to move transit onto train infrastructure, especially on the Italian side, still leaves much to be desired.

by yreg 4y ago

A truck that can drive on roads and also hop on rails sounds much more complex than an EV truck that can charge from an electric line above highway when available.

codesnik 4y ago

Whole truck doesn't have to hop on rails. This thing exists: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadrailer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadrailer

yreg 4y ago
That's admittedly cool. However, you then need to have multiple tractor units with drivers in multiple cities + also the train engine, all coordinating for the handovers. I'm definitely not saying EV trucks with batteries + trolleys are better, but there is some simplicity that's not replicated with the rail solutions. And I have read sofixa's (somewhat mocking) comment as if they are saying that rail is simpler.

CaptainZapp 4y ago

Sorry, can't find anything in English on the quick. But loading whole trucks on trains definitely exist, is logistically not very complex and a major component of North / South (and vice versa) freight transit through the alps. Here's a picture : https://www.eurotransport.de/artikel/kombinierter-verkehr-rola-terminal-in-freiburg-modernisiert-8854379.html https://www.eurotransport.de/artikel/kombinierter-verkehr-ro...

yreg 4y ago
That's smart, but why isn't it done everywhere?
- CaptainZapp 4y ago
  It's only really sensible for long distance transportation. I'm making assumptions here. But lets' say loading the trucks and the wait until the train leaves takes 90 minutes. Unloading them at destination takes another 30 minutes (again, I don't know the real figures, but this feels somewhat realistic). So, there will be a certain not insignificant amount of time being lost before the train moves. Time, which is valuable in the transportation business. Another reason may be that it's really geared for specific topological environments. There are few routes through the alps and they universally require tunnels (there are mountain pass routes, but those are closed in winter and partially inaccessible for trucks). Such a situation invites such logistical solutions. Add to this that Switzerland is one of the main transit countries through the alps and that - with very few exceptions - trucks are not permitted to drive at night (after 10pm) or on Sundays. So, loading your truck onto a train and blitz from Freiburg (Germany) straight to Genoa by train may make a lot of sense. The situation is not quite as ideal as described here. While it's definitely a goal to move transit onto train infrastructure, especially on the Italian side, still leaves much to be desired.