Freight on the Skagerrakbanan

Because high-speed rail freight can compete pricewise with truck, sea and air freight, it will help open up major new market areas for time-critical goods, which could include mail, E-commerce goods and perishable goods such as salmon.

High-speed rail freight (HSRF)

High-speed rail freight (HSRF) While the Skagerrak Line is primarily intended for passenger traffic, it will also be used for high-speed rail freight during daylight hours. One hourly HSRF train in each direction between Oslo and Gothenburg will reduce truck traffic on the E6. This provides conditions for high-speed rail freight on the Oslo-Gothenburg Skagerrak Line and onwards to Hamburg, with the ability to continue by high-speed train to Asia.

Railway technology

There is a difference between conventional railways and high-speed rail and the goods that may be transported on the different tracks. All types of trains may run and all types of goods may be transported on conventional tracks. Axle loads on conventional tracks are higher and therefore suitable for heavy goods such as ore. Goods that are suitable for viaducts may be transported on high-speed rail tracks.

Freight haulage

Every 24 hours, 3,000 trucks ply the Oslo–Gothenburg route. Realistically, it would be possible to replace around 30% of all truck traffic on the E6 with several HSRF trains per hour. Also, HSRF by high-speed train is altogether superior from a climate standpoint.

Containers

A high-speed train weighs max 1,000 tonnes and is 400 meters long, giving 2.5 tonnes/metre. It is therefore possible to haul container wagons at 200 km/h on the Skagerrak Line. If containers are loaded directly onto high-speed trains, the speed will be the same as for passenger trains, i.e. 400 km/h.

Loading

The load profile for the high-speed rail line is a prerequisite for operating on the track. This involves good streamlining and special measures to secure containers in the train to make sure load shifting does not occur. Smart automation and low costs in terminals are crucial success factors for HSRF on the Skagerrak Line.

Transport economy

Freight traffic on high-speed trains is profitable and under constant development. Freight haulage can include high-quality goods as well as purely container traffic. Because high-speed rail freight can compete pricewise with truck, sea and air freight, it will help open up major new market areas for time-critical goods, which could include mail, E-commerce goods and perishable goods such as salmon.