Background

Rail freight is under increasing economic pressure. High system and personnel costs, as well as a shortage of skilled workers, are major contributing factors. This is particularly evident in the transport of small freight volumes over short distances and on the first and last mile.Self-propelled freight wagons offer an solution and can help improve efficiency and strengthen the competitiveness of rail compared to road transport. However, the necessary legal and regulatory framework conditions still need to be put in place. This is where the Lumberjack project comes in.

Project Scope

In Project Lumberjack, we pursue a retrofit approach (i.e. integrating innovative technology into existing technology). To this end, an existing freight wagon is equipped with propulsion, battery-electric energy supply, sensor systems, onboard control and a communication unit.

Moreover, we develop the technical, operational, safety-related and regulatory basis for the controlled operation of a demonstrator. This includes operating scenarios, system and specification documents, and requirements for later testing.

Aims

The overarching objective of the Lumberjack project is to establish a legal and regulatory basis for the future deployment of self-propelled wagons in Austria. This is carried out using a demonstrator, which is used to assess the technical and operational feasibility of the system under defined test conditions.

Subgoals of the project are:

• Establishment of a legal and regulatory basis for the future deployment of self-propelled wagons in Austria
• Assessment of technical and operational feasibility using a demonstrator
• Testing the self-propelled wagon under defined test conditions
• Reduction of costs and operational effort in shunting operations
• Creating new market opportunities in rail freight transport
• Strengthening the competitiveness of rail as compared to the road transport

Innovation

Self-propelled wagons (SPW) have so far mainly been considered conceptually or tested in isolated environments, limiting their explanatory power and applicability to real-world operations. Lumberjack goes one step further by combining a real demonstrator with the targeted development of legal and regulatory foundations for future operation. In this way existing technology is not only upgraded, but also ensures its compliance with European technical, safety, and operational requirements.

We leverage modern communication solutions, digital monitoring, automated control, obstacle detection, and battery-electric energy supply. As a result, the self-propelled wagon is embedded in an interconnected system that does not function in isolation but is integrated into existing operations in rail freight transport.

At the same time, Lumberjack addresses concrete economic and climate-related challenges such as high costs in shunting operations, staff shortages, unused infrastructure, as well as the necessity to shift more freight transport to rail. The project is therefore aligned with Austria’s transport policy objectives. The BMK Masterplan on Freight Transportation 2030 states clearly: “The Austrian mobility system is to be climate-neutral by 2040. Wherever possible, goods should be transported by rail.”

Project Partners

Rail Cargo Austria AG leads the consortium and brings direct operational expertise from rail freight transport into the project. RCA contributes to the development of test scenarios, the operational assessment of the system, and the evaluation of the applicability and value of the project results.

USTP University of Applied Sciences GmbH supports the project with scientific expertise in railway systems, automation, and regulatory analysis. Within the work package Specification and Planning, the focus lies on the development of operational scenarios, the system concept and system definition, as well as the structured derivation of requirements. In addition, USTP contributes to regulatory questions and the safety concept.

FH OÖ Forschungs & Entwicklungs GmbH is primarily responsible for the work package Strategic Positioning. This includes analysing market requirements and potential applications for self-propelled wagons, developing possible use cases, and validating them through qualitative interviews with potential users and shippers. A further focus lies on evaluating industrial sidings and terminals regarding their implementation potential for SPW.

Econsult Betriebsberatungsges.m.b.H contributes expertise in logistics consulting, transport economics, and the strategic planning of logistics systems. Within the project, Econsult supports the analysis of market requirements and the evaluation of potential application scenarios. In addition, Econsult contributes to the economic assessment and strategic positioning of self-propelled wagons in rail freight transport.

SSC Railtec GmbH contributes expertise in railway vehicle engineering, approval management, and running safety of railway vehicles. SSC supports the assessment of safety-related and approval-relevant requirements.

Funding