Glossar
A
Accessories
Accessories are items that supplement or expand basic equipment or that are assigned to a specific activity by their properties.
Translations
Accompanied combined transport
In accompanied combined transport, the motor vehicle accompanied by its driver is transported by another mode of transport (e.g. rail).
See also Rolling Road
Synonyms
- ROLA
Accounts payable
The accounts payable department receives incoming invoices from suppliers and internal companies.
ad hoc
“ad hoc” is a Latin phrase meaning ”at once” or ”pertinent to the matter at hand”.
Translations
Ad-hoc train
“Ad-hoc trains” are additional goods trains that are used as special trains. These run according to a special demand timetable, which makes use of any free capacity.
Agriculture
BU MAC segment. Products such as grain, sugar, oil seeds.
See also BU Mineral Oil, Agriculture, Chemicals
Translations
AIM
This agreement AIM governs the legal relationships between carriers. It includes the standard instructions for calculating and sharing compensation between successive carriers for international movement of freight by rail. It is intended to permit simple, rapid and economic processing of this traffic and in consequence to improve the competitiveness of the railway in relation to other modes of transport. The agreement also takes account of the obligation placed on railway undertakings (RU) to follow market oriented policies and of their interest in increased efficiency.
ANSFISA
ANSFISA is the Italian agency for railway safety. Its headquarters are in Florence. It is comparable to the Federal Railway Authority.
APTU
Uniform Rules concerning the Validation of Technical Standards and the Adoption of Uniform Technical Prescriptions applicable to Railway Material intended to be used in International Traffic.
Area coverage
Area coverage comprises provision and collection of wagons at the rail loading track area and industrial sidings within the framework of shunting / service trips and the transfer of wagons to and from collection points along the secondary network.
Area network
An area network is built up by filling in a superordinate framework or by condensing measurement points laid out in a grid-like manner.
Articulated vehicle
An articulated vehicle is a combination of an articulated truck unit and a semi-trailer.
Assessment Body (AsBo)
The CSM Regulation EU 402/2013 (amended by EU 1136/2015) requires the operator or manufacturer of rolling stock and other railway subsystems to introduce a risk management system. The successful implementation is checked by the Assessment Body (AsBo).
ATMF
Uniform Rules concerning the Technical Admission of Railway Material used in International Traffic.
Austrian customs duty rate (ÖGebrZT)
The Austrian customs duty tariff was drawn up on the basis of TARIC and serves mainly for the customs clearance of goods in Austria. It contains several sections which classify the goods into categories (e.g. mineral substances or means of transport). The tariff number consists of 11 digits (11 digits are the national standards) and explains the goods precisely. The larger the tariff number is, the more precisely the goods are described. ÖGebrZT also contains information such as import turnover tax (EUSt), customs rates and restrictions, but you must take care, because each commodity has different percentages and restrictions.
Automotive
BU STEA segment. Products for the automobile industry.
See also BU Steel, Energy, Automotive
Translations
Axle load
The total of the wagon’s net weight and the weight of the load, divided by the number of axles on the wagon
B
Big bag
A removable, sack-like inner container for transporting various types of bulk goods.
Translations
Block force gauge
The brake cylinder pressure is measured directly on the wagon during every ongoing maintenance operation and overhaul of our freight wagons. We make sure the brakes function perfectly and operate to their full capacity. The block force measuring device can be used to determine whether the required braking force is fully applied to the brake pads.
Blocking runs
Blocking runs are train or small car runs that are let into a closed track of the open line.
Block post
Block posts limit block post sections and regulate the sequence of trains on the open track.
Block train
A freight train that travels as a single unit from the loading pint to the unloading point without interim stops. A block train is typically used for transporting bulk goods such as gravel, ore, coal. It is also used for mass goods such as chemicals, as well as for transporting cars from the plant into the delivery warehouse or port of shipment.
Body
In logistics, bodies are exchangeable transport containers depending on the goods to be transported and the customer's requirements
Translations
Bogie
A running gear on a railway vehicle, in which wheelsets are stored in a rotating frame opposite the body. Vehicles with relatively short bogies can run tighter bends compared to those with rigid wheelsets attached to relatively long bodies.
Translations
Brake shoe
A device for braking vehicles. It is placed between the wheel and the ground or rail and uses the friction that is produced to stop the carriage.
Translations
Bring forward
Bring forward refers to the relocation of units that are shortly to be loaded to the vicinity of the transfer point.
Budget
A budget is an estimate of public revenue and expenditure.
Translations
Building Materials
BU WPBCE segment. Products that are used to erect structures and buildings.
See also BU Wood, Paper, Building Materials, Consumer Goods, Environmental
BU Intermodal (BU IM)
Business Unit Intermodal provides intermodal transports in accompanied and unaccompanied combined transport on all important rail corridors between Austria and the European North/West Ports, harbours in the northern Adriatic, between the Ruhr and Southeastern Europe as far as Turkey as well as in the direction of Asia. In addition, there is also the Rolling Road (accompanied combined transport) on several Austrian transit routes. Five segments are set out within the product portfolio: Continental, Maritime, Eurasia, ROLA and Terminals.
See also Business Unit
Bulk freight wagon
A railway wagon for transporting bulk goods.
Bulk goods
Powdery, granular or lumpy batches that are in a dispensable format. Examples include building materials such as sand, gravel, cement as well as raw materials such as coal, ore, and granules, pellets, etc.
BU Mineral Oil, Agriculture, Chemicals (BU MAC)
The MAC business unit is responsible for rail logistics of bulk goods for products in the petroleum, gas, chemical and agricultural industries in both national and international single wagon and block train transport. This is done both with the Rail Cargo Group and with external partner companies. Permanent further development and adaptation of special requirements enable a broad range of services as a full-service provider.
See also Business Unit
Business to Business (B2B)
Business to Business describes the trade of goods or services from one company to another.
Business to Consumer (B2C)
Business to Consumer describes the direct trade of goods or services between the company and the end consumer.
Business Unit (BU)
A business unit represents a field of business of an enterprise.
BU Steel, Energy, Automotive (BU STEA)
The STEA business unit is responsible for transporting steel and iron products, iron ore, scrap iron and coal, as well as supplying the European automotive industry. In the Automotive department, in addition to goods from the vehicle industry such as cars, tractors, transmissions, engines and parts of vehicles, transports of rail vehicles, special and special transports as well as transports of the Austrian Armed Forces are organized throughout Europe.
See also Business Unit
BU Wood, Paper, Building Materials, Consumer Goods, Environmental (BU WPBCE)
The WPBCE business unit is responsible for the wood, paper, building materials (e.g. crushed stone, salt, cement, glass and gypsum), consumer goods (e.g. brown and white goods, beverages, food and groupage goods) and waste management industries.
See also Business Unit
C
Cargo
Cargo is defined as objects which are subjected to a spatial change of location by means of technical aids (means of transport) in the broadest sense.
Carrier
Carriers carry out in-house production or traction. At RCG, this includes ÖBB-Produktion (AT), Rail Cargo Hungaria (HU) and all Rail Cargo Carrier- Companies.
Translations
Central buffer coupling
Central buffer couplings are combined buffers and couplings mounted centrally on railway vehicles. Modern automatic central buffer couplings can also be remotely coupled or disengaged by the locomotive driver and connect the brake lines and electrics. They are increasingly being used on modern multiple units.
Certification
Certification is a procedure used to demonstrate compliance with certain requirements.
Charging thresholds
Rail cars represent the original form of flat wagons; they often existed during construction of the railway. The load lengths are originally based on the length of a railway track, hence the name. They usually have short iron stanchions and liftable bulkheads that are a maximum of 40 cm in height. Usually there are several transverse charging thresholds fixed into position on the wood floor, meaning the wagons are essentially unsuitable for transporting vehicles.
Chemicals
BU MAC segment. Products such as liquid and solid chemicals.
See also BU Mineral Oil, Agriculture, Chemicals
Translations
Chep pallet
A chep pallet is a reusable pallet made of plastic or wood, which is usually blue in colour.
Chocks
Chocks are an essential part of load securing when transporting wood, vehicles, paper, tubes (metal or plastic) and coils of wire. This is so that they remain in place.
Translations
Churn Rate
The churn rate indicates how many of the company's customers have left over a certain period compared to the existing customer base.
CIM
The international rail consignment note (abbreviated to CIM) has been in use since July 2006. It is based on an international convention on rail freight traffic, which regulates the carriage of goods in Appendix B. The CIM consignment note documents that the consignor has given a transport order. When the contracted railway undertaking takes over the goods, it marks the consignment note with a dispatch note. This copy remains with the consignor as proof of consignment.
CMR
CMR represents the road freight transport law or also consignment note in road transport.
CO2 calculation
CO2 emissions are calculated for us in a “tailored” manner based on the EcoTransIT CO2 emissions calculation programme.
See also EcoTransIT
Combined transport
The combined transport describes a transport chain that connects and combines different modes of transport - both passenger and freight transport. In freight transport, most of the distance travelled in Europe is covered by rail, inland waterways or ocean-bound vessels, and the pre- and post-carriage by road is kept as short as possible.
Commissioning
Commissioning refers to the assembling of certain partial quantities (articles) from a total quantity (assortment) provided on the basis of requirements information (orders). Creation of shipment units. Combination of delivery orders (order performance). Movement process to concentrate or dissolve the flow of goods (that is, goods do not leave the storage area in the state in which they were stored). Dividing complete loads into individual shipments or handling warehouse goods on the basis of individual purchase orders or calls.
Common Occurrence Reporting (COR)
The main objective of Common Occurrence Reporting (COR) is to develop a common reporting system for security incidents. This will enable railway undertakings to collect, analyse and exchange data. This data will serve to improve the performance of the Union's rail system. It will also improve risk-based decision-making at operational and regulatory levels and the general understanding of safety risks at EU level.
Common Safety Methods (CSM)
The Common Safety Methods (CSMs) describe how the safety levels, the achievement of safety targets and compliance with other safety requirements should be fulfilled. The CSMs are directly applicable and enforceable in the Member States. Depending on their scope, they are applied either by authorities or bodies, or by specific actors of the railway system (e.g. railway undertakings, infrastructure managers, entities in charge of maintenance), or even by both.
Community
Communities are cross-divisional network systems that operate parallel to the existing structure and complement it. In communities, collaboration is strengthened by proactive, transnational communication, supported by new technologies (e.g. Office 365, Telegram, etc.). The aim is to optimise processes through closer networking and an increased flow of information within the community. Within RCG: Group/team that is formed to work on problems in an agile and cross-functional way along a process chain (e.g. around a customer or along a traffic axis or corridor). Goals are defined jointly, decisions are made within the community, the working method is agile and "detached" from the existing functional organisation.
Translations
Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER)
The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), based in Brussels, brings together more than 70 railway undertakings, their national associations, infrastructure managers and vehicle leasing companies. CER's mission is to represent the interests of its members in EU policy, in particular to support an improved business and regulatory environment for European railway operators and infrastructure companies.
Company train
Block train for a customer - a company buys the capacity of an entire train to transport loading units from A to B.
Computer-aided train monitoring
Computer-aided train monitoring serves to determine the location of the train on the rail network, to display timetable deviations, graphical depictions of the stations including route information.
Configuration
Loading tackle for freight transport, e. g. containers, swap body, semi-trailers, MOBILER, tank containers, TransANT bodies
Translations
Consignment
Consignment is freight transported under a single contract of carriage.
Synonyms
- Shipment
Translations
Consumer Goods
BU WPBCE segment. Consumer goods are all goods that are consumed (expendable goods) or used (durable goods) by consumers (end customers).
See also BU Wood, Paper, Building Materials, Consumer Goods, Environmental
Container
This is the basic term for a configuration used for freight transport, which is stable enough for repeated use, can usually be stacked and also has elements for transloading between various modes of transport (including flat, open-top, high-cube, bulk, ISO, reefer, tank containers, etc.).
Translations
Container chassis
A container chassis is a chassis for ISO containers, supports and containers, which are secured with locking bolts.
Container wagon
Container carrier wagons for combined transport have specific designs and devices for accommodating the various transport units.
Contract of international carriage by rail (CIM)
The contract of international carriage of freight by rail is governed by the CIM Uniform Rules in Western and Central Europe, Middle East and North Africa. In Eastern Europe and Asia, international carriage of freight by rail is governed by the SMGS.
Conventional
All freight traffic - except combined freight traffic (containers, swap bodies, ROLA)
See also Wagonload
Conventional single wagon traffic
In single wagon traffic, the goods are loaded onto or into a freight wagon. The loaded freight wagons are transported as single wagons or groups of wagons together with other freight wagons from different customers and sectors.
Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF)
The Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) is OTIF’s basic text. It governs the running of the Organisation, as well as its objectives, attributions, relations with the Member States and its activities in general. COTIF enables legal interoperability to be extended and technical interoperability to be improved and contributes to the development of multimodal transport. The Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) applies in Europe, the Maghreb and in the Middle East. OTIF Member States apply the majority of the appendices to COTIF (CIV, CIM, RID, CUV, CUI, APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules).
See also Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail
Covered wagon
Covered wagons are ideally used for transporting piece goods and bulk goods that have to be protected against weather influences, loss or theft.
Cross-functional
Comprehensive cooperation along the value chain (across departments, functions and countries) is referred to as cross-functional.
CUI
These Uniform Rules shall apply to any contract of use of railway infrastructure for the purposes of international carriage within the meaning of the CIV Uniform Rules and the CIM Uniform Rules.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Customer Relationship Management (CRM for short) is the consequential alignment of a company with its customers and the systematic organisation of customer relationship processes. The associated documentation and management of customer relationships is an important component and it is a basis for more in-depth relationship marketing. These customer relationships are maintained via CRM and are essential for corporate success.
Customer-specific
Characteristic for customers
D
Dangerous goods
Dangerous goods are goods that can pose a danger to people, animals and the environment.
See also RID/ADR
Synonyms
- Hazardous goods
Data protection declaration
A data privacy statement describes how data (particularly personal data) is processed by an organisation. It covers how this data is collected, used, and whether it is forwarded to third parties. In addition, there is often a description of the measures taken by the organisation to safeguard the privacy of their customers or users.
Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU)
Delivered Duty Unpaid (...named place of destination) means that the seller's obligations are fulfilled if the goods - not yet cleared for import and still unloaded - are delivered to the buyer at the named destination.
Designated Body
”Designated Body” or also ”Notified Body” is a state-appointed and state-supervised organisation that acts on behalf of a manufacturer to accompany and control the conformity assessment of manufacturers of industrial products of various types.
Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC)
In Europe, the manual screw coupling is still used for shunting - an outdated, time-consuming and inefficient method. The DAC is intended to change this by coupling and uncoupling wagons automatically in the future. In addition, the DAC also connects the power, data and main air supply lines of the carriages. It is thus considered a milestone in process optimisation and digitalisation, and is expected to make a significant contribution to the transformation of rail freight transport.
Disposal
BU WPBCE segment. Types of waste such as excavated material, broken glass, construction and demolition waste, domestic waste, as well as ashes and slag.
See also BU Wood, Paper, Building Materials, Consumer Goods, Environmental
DIUM
Uniform distance table for international freight traffic: list of railways stations -list of the railways places of acceptance/delivery.
Domestic market
The Rail Cargo Group’s domestic market is in Austria and Hungary, however we are very much at home across Europe and travel as far as Asia.
Door to door
It is a dispatch agreement where goods are sent from the consignor to the customer.
Door-to-door-delivery
The transport chain of a door-to-door-delivery combines several transport routes and means of transportation into what is known as “combined transport” (or intermodal transport). Both the first mile and last mile take place alongside the main run, which enables door-to-door transport and an optimised transport chain.
Dry Port
An inland terminal that has an efficient rail connection to one or more deep-sea ports and acts as a distribution and bundling node for the latter.
Translations
Dual traction
Traction with two traction units in different forms possible: tandem operation (both locomotives are connected synchronously and controlled by one driver), pre-tensioning traction unit (the technical equipment of the locomotives requires the 1st and 2nd traction unit to be manned by one driver each), re-tensioning traction unit (if the load on the towing traction unit's towing hook is not sufficient, an additional second locomotive pushes the freight train; requires one driver on each locomotive), intermediate traction unit. The necessity results from the maximum tractive force of a traction unit depending on the topography of the line, the speed and the total weight of a freight train.
E
e-cargo
The direct, fast path for efficient order management for wagonloads, e.g. information about incoming and provided consignments, electronic redemption of consignments, following consignments via Tracking & Tracing.
Translations
ECM
An Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM) plays an important safety role in the European railway system by ensuring that the vehicles for which it is in charge are in a safe state of running by means of a system of maintenance.
EcoTransIT
EcoTransIT is a publicly available tool, internationally recognised in the logistics industry, for calculating the energy consumption and emissions of any shipment of freight globally. The energy demand and emissions of each freight shipment are determined accordingly using an algorithm that takes into account the freight itself, the energy sources used, the route length, the freight allocation, up- and down-stream processes and the load factor, as well as the proportion of empty runs completed by the carriages used. A database of information about the emissions profiles of different modes of transport, country-specific electricity mixes and vehicle energy consumption curves is used in conjunction with the transport parameters as the basis for calculating the emissions generated.
Translations
e-frachtbrief@ (efb@)
A RCG-specific IT application that enables the simple and efficient creation of waybills for wagon consignments via the internet, which are then transmitted electronically to Rail Cargo Group, and by means of which transport orders are created.
E-GTC-I
The E-GTC-I shall apply to all contracts of use of railway infrastructure for the purpose of transports by rail. The scope of application shall be international or international and domestic transports by rail
Translations
Eisenbahn-Bundesamt (EBA)
The Federal Railway Authority (EBA) is the German supervisory, licensing and safety authority for railways and railway undertakings (EVU). More than two thirds of all railway undertakings in Germany are subject to supervision by the EBA. Some regional railways are supervised by the Länder, which in many cases also make use of the possibility of transferring supervision to the EBA.
End-to-end
From the pick-up location (e.g. warehouse, company premises) to the destination (warehouse, terminal, company premises).
Translations
End-to-end logistics solutions
End-to-end logistics describes the entire continuous process along the delivery chain until final delivery to the end customer.
E-services
RCG services such as e-frachtbrief@, empty wagon order book or MIKE, which are provided by means of information and communication technologies via the internet and are available to customers.
See also MIKE e-frachtbrief@
European association for forwarding, transport logistics and customs services (CLECAT)
CLECAT has over 20 national organisations of European freight-related service providers in its membership and also offers companies the opportunity to join under certain conditions. The association was founded in 1958 as the "European Liaison Committee of Common Market Freight Forwarders" - also known as the "Comité de Liaison Européen des Commissionaires et Auxiliaires de Transport du Marché Commun" (CLECAT). CLECAT is based in Brussels with a permanent secretariat and offices close to the European institutions.
Translations
- Europäisches Verband für Spedition, Transport, Logistik und Zolldienstleistung (DE)
- Szállítmányozás, fuvarozás, logisztika és vámügyi szolgáltatások egyesülete (HU)
- Evropské sdružení pro spedici, přepravu, logistiku a celní služby (CS)
- Associazione europea delle imprese di spedizione, dei fornitori di servizi logistici e degli agenti doganali (IT)
European Palett Association (EPAL)
The European Palett Association operates the expansion and securing of the world's most successful open pooling system for load carriers and competes with RCA's own EUR pallet brand.
European Rail Freight Association (ERFA)
ERFA represents private and independent railway companies from across Europe. ERFA today represents 30 members, who operate across the European network and represents the whole value chain of rail transportation. . All ERFA members share a commitment to work towards a non-discriminatory, competitive and innovative Single European Railway market by promoting attractive, fair and transparent market conditions for all rail enterprises.
European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM)
European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM) was established in 2002 following the liberalisation of the EU railway market to promote the interests of all rail infrastructure managers in the EU and the EEA. Based in Brussels, EIM is registered as an international, non-profit association under Belgian law. It is one of eleven European railway organisations recognised by the European Commission as a 'representative body from the railway sector'. As such, EIM supports the work of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) in various working groups and occupies a seat on its Administrative Board.
European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC)
ERRAC, composed of 45 representatives of the main European rail research stakeholders, was created with the ambitious aim of creating a single European body with both the competence and the capacity to contribute to revitalising the European rail sector and increasing its competitiveness by stimulating increased innovation and steering research efforts at European level.
European Train Control System (ETCS)
The European Train Control System monitors the local maximum permitted speed, the correct route and direction and the suitability of the train for the route. The aim is to harmonise a large number of train control systems in Europe. It promises interoperable, cross-border rail transport in Europe.
European Union Agency for Railways (ERA/EUAR)
The EU Agency for Railways is mandated to issue single safety certificates and vehicle (type) authorisations valid in multiple European countries and to ensure an interoperable European Rail Traffic Management System, in the development and implementation of the Single European Railway Area.
EUR pallet
A EUR pallet is an exchangeable, reusable and repairable wooden EUR carrier manufactured, quality-tested and marked in accordance with the provisions of UIC leaflet 435-2. The EUR pallet may only be produced by licensed manufacturers and provided with the corresponding markings.
See also Pallet
Synonyms
- Euro pallet
Exceptional consignment, special load (aS)
A consignment is deemed to be exceptional if, due to its external dimensions, weight or nature, it causes particular difficulties with regard to the railway facilities or wagons and is therefore only able to be transported under special technical and/or operational conditions.
External costs
External costs (social costs, economic costs) are those costs which are not borne by the economic agents causing them, but are imposed on society or third parties. E.g. costs for environmental pollution caused by trucks, the cost of traffic accidents, etc.
F
Fast overnight connection
An overnight ”hop” is a specific form of goods transport in logistics. It takes advantage of the often more favourable traffic situation at night, which is why the goods traffic in the main run of a transport chain is not during the day, but during the night (between 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.).
First mile
First mile is the access to the dispatch station of the rail transport by truck including transhipment from truck to wagon or also by rail.
Flat spot
A flat spot is a sign of wear on the wheel. It occurs when the wheel of a rail vehicle in motion no longer turns but slides over the track. This is caused either by a fixed brake, by a normal braking process where the adhesion coefficient between the wheel and the rail is not large enough, or by a braking process that is too strong (for example during emergency braking).
Flat wagon
Flat wagons are freight wagons that generally contain a full-length, flat floor and either no or at most low superstructures that are open at the top. Flat wagons are intended for transporting goods that are not weather-proof.
Translations
Flexi tank
Robust, bag-like configurations made of rubber or polypropylene fabric. Compared to rigid tanks, flexi-tanks are more cost-effective and can be stored folded together in a space-saving manner. It enables liquids (both chemicals and groceries) to be stored and transported that are not covered by the Regulations for the Conveyance of Dangerous Goods.
Foot (ft)
A foot is a measure of length that usually measures 28 to 32 centimetres, depending on the country. The foot is considered one of the oldest units of length, along with the finger width, the hand width, the hand span, the cubit, the stride and the fathom.
Translations
Forty Foot Equivalent Unit (FEU)
Forty Foot Equivalent Unit is an internationally standardized unit (a 40-foot container) for describing the cargo capacity of ships, trucks, trains and the transhipment of terminals during container transport. One FEU corresponds to two TEUs.
Forum Train Europe (FTE)
FTE is a European organisation of rail transport and service companies based in Bern. The Forum promotes cross-border rail passenger and rail freight transporton in Europe, is the coordination platform of the rail transport companies for the harmonisation of international production plans and train path orders in European rail transport, and provides all members in passenger and freight transport with market-oriented services for planning existing and new transport operations in Europe.
Forwarding agent
A forwarding agent is the person who arranges the consignment of goods to be carried out by a carrier or forwarder on the consignor's account and/or performs the relevant services.
Translations
Freight forwarder
A freight forwarder is the person who is responsible for the transport of goods and who either carries it out himself or has it carried out by others.
Freight wagon
A freight wagon is a railway wagon or wagon for goods transport.
Translations
Full Container Load (FCL)
The container is packed by the consignor or unpacked by the consignee (a sender/consignee)
Full Time Equivalent (FTE)
The Full Time Equivalent is an auxiliary measure of working time. It is defined as the number of hours worked divided by the usual working hours of a full-time employee.
Full Truck Load (FTL)
The abbreviation FTL is mainly used in truck traffic. FTL is the abbreviation for a complete truck load.
G
Gauge
The gauge corresponds to the distance between the two rails on a track which is usually 1.435 m. Other European gauges are 1.676 m in Spain and Portugal and 1.524 m in Russia.
Translations
GCU
The General Contract of Use for Wagons (GCU) is a multilateral contract. It defines the rights and obligations of the parties to the contract (wagon keepers and user railway undertakings) in respect of the use of the wagons as means of transport.
General cargo
Goods that can be transported in one piece, or a packaging item such as a pallet, vat or box.
Translations
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Global satellite navigation system for high-precision positioning and navigation. Using a GPS signal built into the freight wagon, the location of the wagons as well as their mileage and speed can be precisely determined at any time.
Global tariff
A global tariff is a fare for the entire route, i.e. from the station of departure to the station of destination, even across several countries
GMP+B3/B4
The transport of goods for the food and feed industry is subject to strict conditions, legal requirements and high quality standards. The traceability of products, compliance with prescribed loading sequences or precisely defined cleaning plans for wagons are only a small selection of the decisive criteria. A sophisticated quality management system including relevant certificates guarantees product quality and also meets the requirements of the health authorities. The transport of food and feed requires certification in accordance with the GMP+B3 and GMP+B4 guidelines.
Translations
Green traction current
The traction current is of clean origin with a traction current mix from renewable energy sources.
See also Traction power
Gross tonnes
Gross tons describe the weight of vehicle and load.
Translations
Group of Representative Bodies (GRB)
The Group of Representative Bodies (GRB) is a grouping of railway associations in Europe with the role of supporting, in a transverse way, the rail sector’s input to the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) work programme and its effect on safety and interoperability.
GSM-R
GSM-R is a Europe-wide interoperable and standardised system platform for voice and data communications in railways. In addition, GSM-R can be used for train protection, train, shunting, tunnel and construction radio as well as for control and signalling systems.
Translations
H
Handling
Handling is the change of intermodal transport units from one means of transport to another.
Translations
High-strength steels
High-strength steels can achieve strengths in excess of 1000 N/mm². In industries where lightweight construction is important (especially the whole vehicle industry), lower density materials such as aluminium, magnesium, plastics and fibre composites can be used instead of steel. However, since the other metallic materials often have lower strength and hardness than steel, the weight advantage can be offset by the targeted use of high-strength steels and design measures - such as the processing of thinner sheet metal with recesses and beads.
Hinterland traffic
If at a deep-sea or lake port: Transport connections are provided via inland modes of transport)
Homologation
The homologation is responsible for the approval of railway vehicles. Railway vehicles that are put into service must receive separate official approval (homologation) and network access for each country in Europe.
Translations
Hot box
A hot box is an unacceptably high build-up of heat in a wheelset bearing on a rail vehicle.
Hub
This facility makes it possible for rail vehicles to turn in a space-saving manner.
See also Hub
Translations
Hub
Intermodal transport hub/ turnable on which a transhipment or transfer between trains take place.
See also Hub
Synonyms
- Intermodal transport hub
Translations
I
Incoterms
Incoterms are international rules for the interpretation of the main contractual formulas used in foreign trade contracts, laid down by the International Chamber of Commerce (IHK): Incoterms, also known as terms of delivery, regulate the assumption of freight costs and the transfer of risk between buyer and seller. Last version 2010
Inductive train protection
Inductive train protection is a technical system on locomotives to prevent the train going through the "Stop" signal unauthorised.
Industry
An industry represents an economic sector, a branch of business or field of expertise.
Translations
Industry know-how
Industry know-how refers to theoretical prerequisites, knowledge or experience about a specific business sector or field of expertise. At RCG, this is understood to mean specific know-how for rail, multimodal or intermodal logistics of various segments such as automotive or steel.
Industry standard
Industry standard means that something is common for the (respective) economic sector, branch of business or field of expertise.
Infrastructure charge
Those authorised to use a particular train route are charged a fee for its use. All infrastructure managers use train-kilometres and the distance travelled for their calculations. In addition, the gross tonne-kilometres (the weight of the vehicle and the load multiplied by the distance travelled) are also used by the majority of companies. These two parameters provide a good picture of the extent of wear and tear on the railway infrastructure. An infrastructure manager will, in addition to the gross tonne-kilometres, use the gross tonnes (the weight of wagon and the load) of the relevant traffic instead of the gross tonne-kilometres as the unit of account.
See also Infrastructure charge
Synonyms
- Infrastructure utilisation fee
Infrastructure charge
Those authorised to use a particular train route are charged a fee for its use. All infrastructure managers use train-kilometres and the distance travelled for their calculations. In addition, the gross tonne-kilometres (the weight of the vehicle and the load multiplied by the distance travelled) are also used by the majority of companies. These two parameters provide a good picture of the extent of wear and tear on the railway infrastructure. An infrastructure manager will, in addition to the gross tonne-kilometres, use the gross tonnes (the weight of wagon and the load) of the relevant traffic instead of the gross tonne-kilometres as the unit of account.
See also Infrastructure charge
Translations
Infrastructure Manager
A railway infrastructure manager is any person or undertaking responsible in particular for the construction and maintenance of railway infrastructure. This includes in particular railway tracks and overhead contact lines, if the railway line is electrified, and appropriate train protection systems. In the European Union (EU), the separation of infrastructure and operation is a legal requirement and non-discriminatory access to all railway lines within the EU must be guaranteed. Outside the European Union, it is possible for the same company to own the infrastructure and also operate trains.
Innovative semi-trailer handling unit (ISH)
The ISH system is a new way of loading even non-craneable semi-trailers (semi-trailers of a truck without tractor) onto pocket wagons without additional equipment and thus transporting them by rail between terminals.
InnoWaggon
The InnoWaggon unites carrying wagons and exchangeable containers in an innovative concept that guarantees the utmost flexibility. The type of special containers used depends on the industry in question, as the containers are utilised according to requirements such as specific bulk weight and the unloading station.
Translations
Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF)
OTIF is an intergovernmental organisation based in Berne, Switzerland. On the basis of COTIF, OTIF aims to promote, improve and facilitate international rail traffic.
See also Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail
Intermediate traction vehicle
Single or multiple working traction units which are placed between the wagons of a train. They are to be lined up in such a way that no impact forces need to be transmitted. The use of intermediate traction units is referred to as intermediate service. Intermediate traction units are used in particular on goods trains when the trailer load exceeds the permissible drawbar load. In this case, they take over part of the traction force to carry the wagon train mass and prevent train separation.
Synonyms
- Intermediate service
Intermodality
A transport system where two or more modes of transport are used to take the same loading unit or the same road vehicle, without loading or unloading, to complete a door-to-door transport chain. Intermodality is often regarded as a special form of multimodality.
See also Multimodality
Intermodal transport
Intermodal transport refers to the use of different means of transport for one route. Transporting goods in one and the same loading unit (large-scale containers, swap bodies, semi-trailers) on two or more modes of transport (e.g. via rail and road), where changing the loading unit takes place, but there is no transloading of the transported goods themselves.
See also Multimodal transport
Intermodal transport unit
Large containers, swap bodies and semi-trailers suitable for intermodal transport.
International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA)
A non-governmental, membership-based organisation representing freight forwarders in 150 countries.
International Transport Committee (CIT)
The International Rail Transport Committee (CIT) is an association under Swiss law (Art. 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code) and has its headquarters in Berne. The purpose of CIT is the uniform implementation of international rail transport law, primarily for the "Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF)". Our basis in rail freight transport is CIM (Uniform Rules concerning the Contract of International Carriage of Goods by Rail).
Interoperability
Interoperability in rail transport means that rail vehicles can run as continuously as possible between different rail networks, in particular between the rail networks of different countries. Different operational, infrastructural and technical standards present major challenges for efficient cross-border rail transport. For this reason, the European Union is endeavouring to create uniform, legal, technical and operational prerequisites across national borders.
Intersection tariff
There are tariffs from border to border in the intersection tariff - e.g. tariff for the leg of the journey in Austria and tariff for the leg of the journey abroad.
Investment cycles
An investment is a complex process that can be divided into four phases: planning, decision-making, implementation and control.
ISO
ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 164 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.
ISO container
Large standardised steel containers, which enable simple, fast loading, transportation, storage and unloading of goods.
J
Joint Network Secretariat (JNS)
The JNS (Joint Network Secretariat) procedures aim at EU-wide harmonisations of any action taken after any issue, e.g. accidents or incidents in railways in the EU.
Just in time
Timed to coincide with each other.
Just-in-time-delivery
A production and delivery strategy in which suppliers deliver the right products in the right quantities at the right time to the place where they are needed.
K
Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
The term Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is used in business administration to describe key performance indicators that can be used to measure and/or determine the progress or degree of fulfillment of important objectives or critical success factors within an organization.
L
Last mile
Last mile comprises transhipment, potential storage and delivery services, including customs clearance services, from the rail freight's destination railway station.
Length over buffer
The total length of a railway vehicle fitted with buffers.
Less than Container Load (LCL)
The container is packed at the port of shipment and unpacked at the port of destination (several senders or consignees within one container).
Less than Truck Load (LTL)
The abbreviation LTL is mainly used in truck traffic. LTL is the abbreviation for general cargo shipment.
Lightweight construction
Lightweight construction is a design philosophy that aims to both reduce weight and increase resource efficiency. Lighter wagon allows more payload.
Loading
The process of loading in which an object or means of transport picks up goods.
Translations
Loading / Unloading
Loading (or unloading) describes the reloading, unloading or loading of goods onto or from specific means of transport within goods traffic.
Translations
Loading metre
The term loading metre is most frequently used in the truck sector - freight prices are often priced and invoiced in loading meters. A loading meter is the area on a truck across the entire width of a truck and one meter across the length. Example: truck 2.4m wide, 13.6m long
1 loading metre = 2.4 m x 1 m loading area
Total = 13.6 loading metres
Loading unit
In logistics, a physical transport unit, such as a container or swap body, is referred to as a loading unit.
Load limit
The load limit is considered to be a maximum towing capacity (wagon train mass) that one or more traction unit(s) is able to reliably transport at a certain speed over a certain distance.
Load securing
Securing loads (cargo) in road, rail, air and sea freight against forces that arise during transport that may cause it to move, aiding traffic safety in the process.
Logistics
Logistics refers to the organization and monitoring of the flow of goods in the broadest sense. This can include the delivery of goods for processing, material management within the plant, delivery to warehouses and distribution centres, sorting, handling, packaging and final distribution to the point of consumption.
Translations
Long-distance connection
A transport connection over longer routes.
Low-floor wagon
The low-floor wagon is a transport system for accompanied combined transport (Rolling Road) by rail or a special train in which complete or semi-trailer trucks are transported by rail.
Low-low composite brake block
LL-brake blocks describe a type of composite brake shoe that leads to a reduction of noise pollution in trains. A significant share of noise in trains stems from the interaction of the wheel with the railway track. Composite brake blocks reduce this scraping, resulting in a reduction of noise by fifty per cent. The LL-type was specifically designed for the retrofitting of existing rail cars.
M
Maintenance
Maintenance comprises ensuring or restoring the functionality of technical assets (wagons, locomotives).
Translations
Marshalling hump
The marshalling hump plays an important role in shunting. Locomotives push freight wagons over an artificially created hill known as a shunting hump. They then roll freely down the slope and are brought over the turnout area to one of the sidings where the wagons are marshalled. The wagons decelerate completely automatically, thanks to braking elements that are installed in the track area.
Marshalling hump capability
Every time a collision occurs (when wagons collide with other wagons), especially when rolling over the hill, massive forces are exerted on the wagon material. Freight wagons therefore have to fulfil certain requirements in order to be able to roll over the hill. All wagons which do not meet these requirements due to their load or oversize are moved manually at a considerable additional cost.
Marshalling yard
A railway station in which goods wagons are put together to create locomotives (mixed in single wagonload) and taken apart.
Material
Materials are work equipment of a purely material nature that are processed as work objects and finish up in the relevant final products. These are usually solids.
MIKE
Our digital assistant MIKE provides support with digital services for all aspects of goods transport. MIKE is constantly being updated with new capabilities that make handling transports simpler, more efficient and more transparent – from the transport request right through to invoicing. MIKE currently offers the following functions: Capacity Planning, Ordering, Tracking.
Mineral Oil
BU MAC segment. Products such as mineral oil, crude oil, LPG.
MOBILER
The MOBILER is a hydraulic lifting and shifting device with which containers and swap bodies can be handled horizontally between trucks and railway wagons. This means that transhipment is possible on practically any loading track and can be carried out by a single person without external assistance.
Translations
Modal share
The modal share indicates the percentual share of a mode of transport in total transport volume (rail vs. road vs. air vs. sea).
Modal shift
The English term for a shift of traffic: it is a traffic planning instrument. As part of traffic planning and policy with a focus on sustainability, it is one of the fundamental principles of transport science alongside traffic prevention and environmentally friendly processing of existing mobility needs.
Translations
Modal split
Key figure within traffic statistics that describes the traffic behaviour of people (in passenger transport) or companies (in goods transport) and states the distribution of transport volumes across the various means of transport in percent of a geographic administrative entity (e.g. city).
Modular design
Industry-specific superstructures enable optimal logistics solutions (easily exchangeable and available in various industry-specific designs).
Multimodality
When freight transport takes place within a certain time frame by means of two or more different modes of transport, we speak of multimodal transport, which occurs particularly in the area of unaccompanied combined transport, i.e. the transport of containers, swap bodies and craneable semi-trailers. A special form of this is intermodal transport. Several means of transport are used consecutively within the transport chain. The journeys are therefore combined, and the advantages of rail and road as well as water and air are incorporated into one transport chain. A special form of multimodality is intermodality.
See also Intermodality
Multimodal transport
Multimodal transport refers to the transport of goods using two or more different modes of transport within a period of time.
See also Intermodal transport
Multi-system locomotive
A multi-system locomotive is an electric rail vehicle that can draw its traction power from at least two different traction current systems via overhead lines and/or conductor rails.
N
National Safety Authority (NSA)
The National Safety Authority is the national body entrusted with the tasks regarding railway safety by a Member State in order to ensure a unified safety regime in Europe.
NDTAC
The Directive on a Single European Railway Area (Directive 2012/34/EC) empowered the Commission to develop rules on the levying of charges for railway noise. On this basis, the Commission adopted the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/429 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation), which provides the legal framework for Noise Separated Train Path Pricing (NDTAC) systems in the European Union. The primary objective of the Regulation is to contribute to improving the well-being of EU citizens and to reduce the risks to the competitiveness of rail freight by providing incentives for retrofitting.
Translations
Net tonnes
Net tonnes describe the weight of load excl. vehicle.
Nomenclature Hamonisee Marchandises (NHM)
The Nomenclature Hamonisee Marchandises is a harmonised list of goods or the UI's International Classification System for Goods in Transit.
Nordstern
Nordstern is the transformation and strategy implementation programme of the ÖBB Group into which the RCG transformation programme Trans4Cargo has been merged.
Translations
Notified Body (NoBo)
Notified bodies are government-authorised certification bodies that perform inspections and evaluations in conformity assessments.
NVR
In accordance with the requirements arising from both national and EU regulations, each Member State is obliged to establish and implement a computer-based railway vehicle register, referred to as the National Vehicle Register (NVR). The national railway vehicle register provides information on the vehicle owner, the vehicle keeper, the entity in charge of vehicle maintenance, the obtained authorisations for placing in service, the limitations on vehicle use, the EC declaration of verification, the year of manufacture.
O
One-stop shop
A one-stop shop is the ability to complete and process all the necessary steps leading to the achievement of a goal at a single location.
On-site logistics
On-site logistics connects the flow of materials and production.
See also On-site shunting
On-site shunting
Wagon shunting is one of the most important tasks in on-site logistics. Support is provided directly on the customer’s premises from provision to pickup and creation to inspection of the freight wagons.
See also On-site logistics
Open wagon
Open wagons can be used to transport weather-resistant bulk materials along with wooden and steel structures.
Operator
The operator operates intermodal transport activities in accompanied and unaccompanied combined traffic.
See also Rail Cargo Operator
Translations
Optimized post arrangement
The optimized post arrangement is the optimal arrangement of the vertical bars fastened to the side of a loading area on lorries for securing cargo and mounting side walls.
Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD)
OSJD is an interministerial organisation based in Warsaw, Poland. It administers the agreements SMPS and SMGS.
Own contribution
Own contribution is deemed to exist if no external trades or assistance are used for the production of a service and the respective service is de facto performed by the contractor.
Own traction
Own traction is the transport service provided by RCG Carrier subsidiaries or via ÖBB-Produktion, as opposed to transport services provided by third parties on behalf of RCG.
P
Pallet (EUR pallet)
A transportation aid primarily made of wood that is used to bundle, store and transport larger quantities (stackable) of goods or to transport heavier individual items.
Translations
Paper
BU WPBCE segment. Products such as graphic paper, packaging and toilet paper, pulp, waste paper
See also BU Wood, Paper, Building Materials, Consumer Goods, Environmental
Translations
Passenger car
A multi-lane, engine-powered road vehicle that is used to transport no more than nine persons including the driver. It is generally used as a synonym for the term “car”.
Synonyms
- Car
Path
The scheduled timetable path shows infrastructure use for a train operation in terms of space and time.
Translations
Payload
Payload is the load that a transport vehicle can carry as freight.
Payload
Payload is the sum of the weight resulting from the crew, cargo load, fuel and lubricants that can be carried.
Translations
Platform of Rail Infrastructure Managers in Europe (PRIME)
PRIME (Platform of Rail Infrastructure Managers in Europe) was established at the end of 2013 between DG MOVE and the Infrastructure Managers with the aim of improving cross-border cooperation between railway infrastructure managers, supporting the implementation of European railway policy and developing performance benchmarking for the exchange of best practices. It is an informal forum, but a forerunner of the formal network of railway infrastructure managers proposed in the 4th railway package.
Platform wagon
Platform wagons are freight wagons with a mostly continuous flat floor and without or with low superstructures open at the top. They are used for the transport of goods that are not sensitive to weather conditions or various superstructures (containers, MOBILER,...).
See also Flat wagon
Pocket wagon
A pocket wagon is a railway wagon with low-lying pocket for the axle aggregates of semi-trailers.
Point
A track construction on a railway that enables rail vehicles to move from one track to another.
Translations
Post arrangement
Post arrangements are used to secure stackable goods such as tubes, tree trunks or other goods, particularly if transporting by rail or lorry. In such cases, it is known that posts rising from the wagon platform that are arranged laterally on the vehicle should be screwed or welded into position, or the posts should be inserted into the holders arranged in/on the vehicle and then removed, if necessary, if the vehicle should be used without posts. This would apply if transporting containers that make a level deck without lateral boundaries necessary.
Powder wagon
This wagon is used for goods which are so fine-grained that they do not flow properly, meaning that gravity discharging is not possible.
Primary network
The primary network comprises single wagon train connections between shunting stations and from/to the borders.
Procurement logistics
Procurement logistics comprise logistics services for orders, such as order planning, order processing, goods receipt planning, goods receipt processing, and quality control.
Q
Quality control
Quality control ensures quality standards of various services, checks whether these standards are met and improves their quality.
R
Rail Cargo Austria (RCA)
Rail Carga Austria AG is the operational lead company of the Rail Cargo Group. Formerly also used as a brand/logo for ÖBB's freight services.
Rail Cargo Carrier (RCC)
The Carrier subsidiaries provide international traction services. Focus on top quality international traction services with multi-system locomotives and running block trains through several countries across Europe (preferably without a change of the traction vehicle).
Rail Cargo Group (RCG)
Umbrella brand of all subsidiaries of Rail Cargo Austria AG.
See also Umbrella brand
Rail Cargo Hungaria (RCH)
Since 1 March 2010, Hungary's most important rail freight carrier Rail Cargo Hungaria (formerly MÁV Cargo) has belonged to the Rail Cargo Group. The company started its independent activity on 1 January 2006, after the freight transport division of the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV Zrt.) was organised into an independent company. Thanks to Rail Cargo Hungaria Zrt., Rail Cargo Group is the market leader in Hungary, which is reflected in professional overall logistics solutions along international corridors. Thanks to its presence in the Hungarian market and its own production network, Rail Cargo Group is able to provide rail logistics in Austria, Hungary and countries throughout Central and South-Eastern Europe. In addition, the railway company forms the backbone for strong and comprehensive single wagonload traffic in Hungary.
Rail Cargo Logistics (RCL)
The core competence is tailor-made and economically optimised transport concepts, end-to-end logistics solutions. For every industry, for every specific logistics requirement, from single wagons and block trains to individual total solutions.
Rail Cargo Operator (RCO)
Operates intermodal services in accompanied and unaccompanied combined transport within Europe and Asia. RCO links rail with land transport and sea freight. RCO transports containers, swap bodies, craneable and non-craneable semi-trailers (ISU) and also whole trucks (ROLA).
See also Rolling Road
RailData
RailData, special group of the UIC, is an international organisation of cargo Railway Undertakings for development and production of central information and data exchange systems for European freight rail transport.
See also UIC
Translations
Rail Freight Forward (RFF)
Rail Freight Forward is an association of European rail freight companies. As a founding member, we are committed to drastically reducing the negative impact of freight transport on the planet and mobility through innovation and a more intelligent transport mix. It is our goal to increase the modal share of rail freight across Europe to 30% by 2030. All of us railway undertakings, infrastructure operators as well as politicians across Europe are needed to make the modal shift happen.
Rail freight transport
All off-site transportation of all kinds of goods via road, rail, water, and air. The means of transport used are lorries, freight trains, barges and sea-going ships as well as cargo planes. Freight transport primarily transports products between production sites, traders (wholesale and retail) and end customers.
Rail logistics
A service provider that organises the transport of goods via rail.
Rail Transport and Passenger Rights Act
Federal Act on Rail Transport and Passenger Rights
Railway freight transport
Railway freight transport is the use of railroads and trains to transport cargo as opposed to human passengers.
Railway logistics
Railway logistics comprise all activities related to the sale and provision of logistic services by means of rail transport. Within RCG railway logistics span all business units.
Railway logistics provider
Rail logistics providers offer end-to-end logistics solutions from a single source and organise freight transports to the desired destination - whether for block train, single wagon or intermodal transport.
Railway undertaking (RU)
A railway undertaking provides rail transport services using the rail infrastructure of both main and branch lines, serves railway traffic and ensures that traction is provided on the railway infrastructure. The railway undertaking has been granted an operating licence.
Raw Materials
BU STEA segment. Products such as scrap, iron ore, coal.
See also BU Steel, Energy, Automotive
Translations
Reach Stacker
A reach stacker is a vehicle with mobile front lifting device for moving or stacking intermodal transport units or containers.
Reception sidings
Track group of the marshalling yard to accommodate the incoming goods trains
Regular route
The regular route defines in terms of time and space which section of the train route may be occupied by a specific train at which time. A section may not be used by more than one train at the same time.
See also Standard train
Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID)
The Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) forms Appendix C to COTIF, and has an annex. This Regulation applies to international traffic.
See also RID/ADR Dangerous goods
Translations
- Verordnung über die internationale Eisenbahnbeförderung gefährlicher Güter (DE)
- Veszélyes Áruk Nemzetközi Vasúti Fuvarozásáról szóló Szabályzat (HU)
- Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (CS)
- Regolamento concernente il trasporto internazionale di merci pericolose per ferrovia (IT)
RID/ADR
RID: This Regulation shall apply a) to the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail on the territory of the RID Contracting States, b) to carriage complementary to carriage by rail to which the CIM Uniform Rules are applicable, subject to the international prescriptions governing carriage by another mode of transport,as well as the activities referred to by the Annex to this Regulation. ADR: Dangerous goods are listed in the Dangerous Goods Tariff or in the ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road). The conditions contained in the two mentioned legal regulations must be observed when transporting dangerous goods.
See also Dangerous goods
Translations
RockTainer
A RockTainer is a self-supporting container made of high-strength fine-grained structural steel.
Translations
Roller container
It combines the roll-off containers frequently seen on the road with rail transport. This easy-to-use system enables rapid transloading of roll-off containers between the lorry and the train, and does not require stationary loading aids such as forklifts or cranes.
See also Special wagon
Rolling Road (ROLA)
The rolling road is a form of combined road-rail transport. Trucks of all types are transported in their entirety on special wagons with a continuously low loading area (low-floor wagons). The drivers travel in the accompanying wagons (seated or couchette wagons). The transhipment takes place in terminals via mobile ramps. The vehicles are subject to conditions determined by the route class and clearance gauge of the route being travelled.
Roll-On Roll-Off (RO-RO)
Loading or unloading a vehicle, a railway carriage or an intermodal transport unit (ITU) onto or from a boat, using its own wheels or wheels which are provided for this purpose. In the case of the Rolling Road, vehicles are only driven onto or from a train.
Roll out
A roll-out is similar to a market launch. Modifications that are developed are implemented at several locations - nationally and internationally.
Translations
Rope
Ropes are used to keep the goods together when creating loading units or to secure stone blocks.
Translations
Round trip
A round trip is a system within transport logistics where the material product is transported on the outward journey, and the finished product is brought back on the return journey, e.g. the outward and return journey with TransFER connections. This avoids empty runs whilst also optimising the load on the means of transport in question.
Route class
Railway lines are divided into route classes according to their load-bearing capacity. The line class determines the maximum permissible wheelset load and metre load of a line. The wheelset load or load limit provides information on the maximum weight per axle or the maximum permissible weight up to which a wagon may be loaded for the individual line classes.
S
Safety Critical Components
Safety critical components perform functions that protect against electric shock, explosion, mechanical hazards, fire, etc. Examples of safety critical components would include mains cable, mains switches, transformers, X and Y capacitors, power supplies, fuses and fuse holders. As a general rule, all mains connected parts with some form of insulating or special protective function are considered to be safety critical components. However, a component does not have to be mains connected to be safety critical. Examples would be PTC devices or fuses in secondary circuits or interlocked door switches.
Safety driving circuit
The safety driving circuit is a technical system on locomotives which continuously monitors the driver's ability to act during the journey.
Schieneninfrastruktur-Dienstleistungsgesellschaft mbH (SCHIG)
Schieneninfrastruktur-Dienstleistungsgesellschaft mbH is a company and service provider of the Republic of Austria in rail transport to support the transport policy objectives of the Republic of Austria.
Secondary line
A secondary railway or local railway is a railway line that primarily serves local traffic and provides transport links to rural areas.
Synonyms
- Local railway
Secondary network
The secondary network comprises train connections in single wagon traffic between shunting stations and site locations (collection points within the "site").
Semi-trailer
A semi-trailer is a motorless vehicle intended for the carriage of goods and intended to be coupled to a tractor unit in such a way that a substantial part of its weight and load is carried by that vehicle.
Service
Service is a way of adding value for customers by facilitating or promoting the achievement of the outcomes that customers seek.
Translations
Shipper
The shipper is the person who places goods in the care of another person (forwarder or carrier) in order to deliver them to the consignee.
Translations
Shunt
Move wagons; put them in a certain order or detach a wagon from a train.
Synonyms
- switch
Shunting
Shunting is defined as intentional vehicle movement that does not count as a train journey or additional journey: Disassembling and assembling (= forming) trains, transferring a group of wagons or individual vehicles to another station track, moving individual traction units within the station from and to the trains, providing and collecting railway wagons at loading facilities, etc.
Translations
Siding
A siding is connecting business premises to the public railway infrastructure. A connection line enables efficient and environmentally friendly freight transport without changing the mode of transport.
Synonyms
- Connecting railway
Single Safety Certification (SSC)
The railway undertakings whose business is to transport goods and/or passengers, whether or not their activities are limited to providing traction only, must hold a valid single safety certificate to be granted access to the railway infrastructure.
Single wagon load traffic (SWT)
Individual wagons or groups of wagons are usually collected with a shunting traction unit when it comes to railway traffic with low demand that is not sufficient for cost-effective management of a whole train. The addition to other locomotives with which it is transported to the same destination station, or a station that is en route, takes place at the marshalling yard. The single wagonload (SWL) is costlier and often considerably slower than direct block train connections.
SmartCargo
Fitting our fleet of freight wagons with the most modern telematic solution for GPS monitoring. Alongside real-time position sensing and temperature measuring, impacts can also be identified with 3D acceleration values. This also improves our wagon management.
Translations
SmartLINK
This is the first point of access into the “digital RCG” for new customers. The whole RCG range of services is provided in a clear, accessible manner here. Customers and interested parties can select between scheduled or customised traffic connections. They can find out about the equipment available as well as the services and add-ons relevant to them. Our customers can also use their own individual SmartLINK and contact us so we can prepare a personalised offer together.
Translations
SMGS / SMPS
The SMPS and SMGS are international conventions which apply in Eastern Europe and Asia to the international carriage of passengers and goods by rail. The majority of the Member States of OSJD, which are sometimes also members of OTIF, apply both of these conventions.
SOLAS
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) stipulates that the gross mass of containers must be confirmed by the carrier before they are stowed on board an ocean-going vessel and must be notified to the shipping company in good time.
Synonyms
- International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
Translations
Special body
A special body is a customer-specific body on freight wagons, specially made according to customer requirements.
Special wagon
These are mainly vehicles that have been optimised for a specific purpose, e.g. transporting coils which have been loaded horizontally, and wagons for the roll-off container transport system for horizontal transshipments.
See also Roller container
Stanchions
Stanchions are vertical bars attached to the side of a loading area on trucks and traction vehicles for securing cargo and side walls.
Stanchion wagon
A type of flat wagon with long stakes, which are arranged on the sides of the wagon and point upwards to secure a load from slipping.
Standard train
Train that runs daily or on specific days according to a timetable set in advance. These are trains according to the regular routes included in the annual timetable.
See also Regular route
State of the art
Describes the current state of development of a technology or product.
State railway
A state railway is a public railway undertaking.
Steel
BU STEA segment. Products such as steel and iron.
See also BU Steel, Energy, Automotive
Translations
Steering logic
Definition of how organisational units of different legal entities at RCG collaborate across national borders to operate competitive international railway logistics.
Stick rail
The rails which the switch blades rest against are called stock rails. The stock rails are machined on the inside of the rail head so that the switch blades lie flat and do not become too thin and thus sensitive, especially at the tip.
Translations
Stillages
Stillages are used to protect or to stack up dispatch or spare parts that do not have their own packaging for protection during transportation such as motors, finished parts or fittings. They have a high load capacity, are very stable and also suitable for storage.
Storage
Items are recorded, transported and stored in a warehouse in the storage business process.
Translations
Storage types
Production warehouse - distribution warehouse - transshipment warehouse - supply warehouse - distribution warehouse - re-expedition warehouse - distribution warehouse - picking warehouse
Strap
A strap is a secure fastening system consisting of a wide band.
See also Tension belt
Translations
Stuffing
Loading of small consignments into a container.
Translations
Subcontractor
Subcontractors or sub-suppliers are active on behalf of a principal customer. They provide specific pre-services for deliveries or services within a project.
Subsidiary
In Group Law, this is a company that is connected to another company via typical Group relationships (parent company) and is under its management. Also: Subsidiary.
Subsidiary
Membership right acquired through a capital contribution (cash or non-cash contribution) to a company. At RCG, this is understood to mean subsidiaries and second-tier subsidiaries of Rail Cargo Austria AG (RCA). If RCA's share is more than 50%, this is referred to as a majority shareholding, while below that it is a minority shareholding.
Translations
Supervisory board
The supervisory board is a body that oversees the management of a company.
Supply Chain Management (SCM)
The supply chain management comprises the process-oriented control of all activities from the procurement of raw materials to development, production, assembly and sale to the customer.
Swap body
An exchangeable load carrier that (similar to an ISO container) can be separated from the carrier vehicle. In contrast to ISO containers, they are primarily suitable for road and rail transport - for use in combined transport, the swap body must be equipped such that transloading onto rail is possible.
T
Tank container
For transportation of liquid and gaseous bulk goods. They are predominantly used for transporting chemicals or hazardous goods, but are also used for transporting foodstuffs.
Tank wagon
This wagon is used for goods that are so finely granulated that they cannot be poured, meaning they cannot be unloaded via gravity discharge.
Target corridor
A target corridor is a transport corridor that is strategically relevant for our RCG (also used differently from TEN corridors in the form of country-to-country connections).
Tarpaulin
It is used for goods that have to be protected against weather and also blowing away.
Technical Specification for Interoperability
The Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) define the technical and operational standards which must be met by each subsystem or part of subsystem in order to meet the essential requirements and ensure the interoperability of the railway system of the European Union.
Telematic Application for Freight (TAF)
Telematic Application for Freight defines the provision for handling and exchange of relevant information for freight and logistics.
Telematics & Sensors
Freight wagons are equipped with sensors and electronic components that turn the freight wagon into a digital and intelligent rolling stock and virtual communicator or ambassador. For example, pressure sensors can indicate the loading condition of a wagon and special accelerometers can register all shunting movements. The condition of critical components such as the wheelset can be continuously monitored and more reliable transport can be achieved by reducing the number of rolling stock failures. The data is sent via mobile radio to a server, where it is evaluated and analyzed.
Temporary storage
The calling location is responsible for the reliability of the individual call in the event of temporary storage. The storing location only checks the reliability of the call if there is a reason to do so. The storing location must ensure that the transmission of personal data can be reliably established and can also be monitored.
Tension belt
This is for securing goods such as metal, wood, building materials, stones, agricultural products, paper, vehicles, boats, vats or pallets.
TEN-T
The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) is a European Commission policy directed towards the implementation and development of a Europe-wide network of roads, railway lines, inland waterways, maritime shipping routes, ports, airports and rail-road terminals.The policy seeks to achieve this aim through the construction of new physical infrastructures; the adoption of innovative digital technologies, alternative fuels and universal standards; and the modernising and upgrading of existing infrastructures and platforms.
Translations
Terminal
A terminal is a location equipped for transloading and for storing intermodal transport units. Enclosure with specific infrastructure and equipment in which intermodal loading units are transshipped (reloaded) between means of water transport (container ships) and means of land transport (lorry and goods train), or solely between lorries and goods trains.
Translations
Terminus station
A terminus station is a station where all main tracks end in the station and where all trains are only able to enter on one side and leave again after reversing their direction of travel.
Third-party production
Third-party production refers to traction services provided by external production (other rail transport companies) on behalf of Rail Cargo Group.
Tonne-kilometre (tkm)
Tonne-kilometre is a measurement for the transport service of goods. This is measured by the product of the mass transported in tonnes (t) and the distance travelled in kilometres (km)
Total weight
The total weight of a load is made up of the weight of body and cargo.
Tracking and Tracing
Tracking and tracing enable a continuous functioning of tracking and control of goods, loading units and loads from production to point of sale. Tracking enables the determination of location at any time in the warehouse and across the entire transport chain. Tracing enables traceability of the progress of a shipment retrospectively, which is a significant advantage when recall actions become necessary.
See also MIKE
Traction
Traction is understood as the movement of trains by traction vehicles. Traction is provided by the business unit that owns and schedules traction units, which in Austria means the ÖBB-Produktions GmbH, and in other RCG markets to the Rail Cargo Carrier companies and Rail Cargo Hungaria. The historical term used for ÖBB-Produktions GmbH is "ÖBB-Traktion".
Translations
Traction power
While three-phase alternating current with voltages such as 220 kV or 380 kV and a frequency of 50 Hertz is common for the public extra-high voltage grid, traction power high-voltage grids in almost every country consist of only one alternating current phase, with a frequency of 16.70 Hertz and a voltage of 110 kV being common in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Traction unit
A traction unit is a rail vehicle with its own drive by electric or diesel engine.
Train control operation
Train control operation is a railway operating procedure in which a train conductor grants the respective train permission to travel on a route to the subsequent train control point.
Train driver
Train drivers drive freight trains from A to B, carry out shunting activities carry out brake tests, check the vehicles and safety equipment and prepare for the journeys.
Train set
A combination of rail vehicles - regardless of whether it is running as a train movement or shunting movement or is parked.
Trans4Cargo (T4C)
Trans4Cargo was the RCG transformation programme that was merged into the ÖBB Group's transformation and strategy implementation programme, Nordstern.
See also Nordstern
Translations
TransANT
TransANT is a completely new and innovative wagon model. A standardised platform, available in different lengths, can be equipped with modular superstructures, which are interchangeable and available in various industry-specific versions. Due to the special lightweight construction using high-strength structural steels and the resulting 20% lower dead weight compared to standard wagons, the wagon impresses with its payload advantage of up to 4 tonnes. In addition, TransANT is can operate in the hump yard, which is not the case with a standard container carrying wagon. TransANT is particularly suitable for an automatic central buffer coupling.
Translations
TransFER
Product name for all planned connections within our TransNET - whether scheduled or customised for conventional traffic as well as all intermodal train products.
See also TransNET
Translations
TransNET
Product name for the RCG production network. The digital TransNET on www.railcargo.com/transnet now offers all of our network TransFER connections from and to all ports, business and industry hubs, and combinations thereof, at a glance.
Translations
Transport insurance
Transport insurance provides insurance cover for goods in transit and the means of transport in terms of the hazards involved in the transportation and temporary storage of goods.
Transshipment
Reloading is a transport process where freight is moved from one means of transport to another as a consignment moves along the delivery chain.
Truck
Vehicles that are grouped as commercial vehicles and are used to transport goods.
TSI-TAF
This TSI concerns the telematics applications subsystem and applies to applications for freight services, including information systems (real-time monitoring of freight and trains), marshalling and allocation systems, reservation, payment and invoicing systems, management of connections with other modes of transport and production of electronic accompanying documents.
Translations
Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit
Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit is a statistical auxiliary quantity and an internationally standardised unit (a 20-foot standard container) to describe the loading capacity of ships, trucks, trains and the transhipment of terminals during container transport. The unit is calculated on the basis of a 20-foot container (6.10 m long). A 40-foot container corresponds to 2 TEU.
Twinset
A train pair is two trains with the same train type that run on the same line in opposite directions and either form the outward and return legs of a carriage set or have the same train name and often have related train numbers.
Translations
U
UIC
International Union of Railways based in Paris. Association of (most) railway infrastructure managers and partly also railway undertakings (RUs) with the aim of elaborating and developing common norms and standards.
UIRR
International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport
UITP
UITP (Union Internationale des Transports Publics) is the International Association of Public Transport and a passionate champion of sustainable urban mobility. It is the only worldwide network to bring together all public transport stakeholders and all sustainable transport modes.
Umbrella brand
Umbrella brands combine all brands within a company. Instead of all individual brands, the company’s overall competence is at the forefront. All Rail Cargo Austria AG subsidiaries are managed under the Rail Cargo Group (RCG) umbrella brand.
See also Rail Cargo Group
Synonyms
- Corporate brand
Unaccompanied combined transport
The carriage of loading units not accompanied by the driver or an intermodal transport unit with another mode of transport.
Underframe
An underframe is a chassis of a motor vehicle.
Translations
Underframe
Carrier wagons are used for combined transport and container freight, to which pegs have been attached for securing the containers or swap bodies. They have no side walls, floor or stanchions.
See also Flat wagon
UNIFE
UNIFE has represents the European rail industry in Brussels. It brings together over 100 of Europe's leading large and medium-sized rail utilities involved in the design, manufacture, maintenance and upgrading of rail systems, subsystems and associated equipment. UNIFE also brings together 14 national rail industry associations from European countries. UNIFE represents the interests of its members at both European and international level - and actively promotes EU rail equipment and standards within and outside Europe.
Translations
Uniform Rules concerning Contracts of Use of Vehicles in International Rail Traffic (CUV)
The CUV Uniform Rules apply when a railway undertaking uses vehicles which do not belong to it and it concludes a contract of use with the keeper of those vehicles. The CUV Uniform Rules are limited to just defining the essential points of the contract and leave a lot to contractual freedom.
Translations
- Uniform Rules concerning Contracts of Use of Vehicles in International Rail Traffic (DE)
- Uniform Rules concerning Contracts of Use of Vehicles in International Rail Traffic (HU)
- Uniform Rules concerning Contracts of Use of Vehicles in International Rail Traffic (CS)
- Uniform Rules concerning Contracts of Use of Vehicles in International Rail Traffic (IT)
Unique selling proposition (USP)
In marketing and sales psychology, this is the outstanding feature that sets an offer apart from the competition.
Unloading
Removal of goods from or out of a means of transport.
Translations
Use Case
We use "Use Cases" to illustrate the collaboration between organisational units. Deviating from a traditional process definition, our "Use Cases" are documented in less detail and focus on particularly frequent or new processes in the new organisation.
Translations
V
Vehicle Authorisation
Before a new or modified railway vehicle is permitted to operate on the EU railway network it must be authorised. An authorisation is granted for a vehicle and/or vehicle type (vehicle type authorisation) or for individual vehicles that conform to an already authorised vehicle type (vehicle authorisation for placing on the market). The authorisation process allows the authorising entity to achieve a reasonable assurance that the applicant and the other entities involved in the design, manufacture, verfication and validation of the vehicle and/or vehicle type have fulfilled their obligations and responsibilitites, in order to ensure that the vehicle and/or vehicle type conforms to the applicable laws.
W
Wagon
A rail vehicle without its own drive and with two or more axles, which can roughly be classified as freight wagons for transporting goods and passenger coaches for transporting people.
Translations
Wagon interchange point
A wagon interchange point is any area of track agreed between rail siding companies and Rail Cargo Group in which freight wagons are handed over and received.
Wagonload
A loading of freight that occupies an entire freight wagon as a joint consignment.
See also Conventional
Wagon load traffic
A form of rail freight transport in which the freight trains are compiled from freight wagons with goods both to and from different senders and consignees.
Waste Management Act (WMA)
The Waste Management Act sets out targets and basic principles for waste management. The federal law applies to hazardous and non-hazardous waste and covers, amongst other things, the general duties of waste owners, the duties of waste collectors and handlers, the collection and recycling systems, whilst also setting out the processes for treatment plants as well as the conditions for cross-border shipment of waste.
Weighbridge
A weighbridge is a railway facility for weighing railway vehicles.
Whisper brakes
Worn running surfaces of the wagons, which hit rough rails are causing noise. Freight wagons are equipped with so-called whisper brakes all over the country. This means that they will be converted to new, low-noise systems with modern composite brake blocks. Previous metallic grey cast iron brakes will in future be replaced by brake blocks made of rubber, copper and composite materials. These are more elastic and much quieter materials. This is because the running surfaces of the wheels are roughened during every braking operation with grey cast iron brake pads. With so-called whisper brakes, they remain smoother. This is why freight trains equipped with composite brake pads or LL brake pads ("low noise, low friction") approved since 2013 cause less noise.
Wood
BU WPBCE segment. Products in the forestry, timber and paper industry.
See also BU Wood, Paper, Building Materials, Consumer Goods, Environmental
Synonyms
- Timber
Translations
WoodTainer
The WoodTainer is used to transport bulk goods and consists of high-performance special containers with a corresponding offloading solution.
Translations
X
Y
Z
#
20ft container
The 20-foot container is a standardised freight and transport container designed for rail but also maritime and road transport. It measures 6.058 metres in length, 2.438 metres in width and 2.591 metres in height and thus has a filling volume of 33 cubic metres.
See also Container
40ft container
The 40-foot container is the most important and best-known type of container for merchant shipping. It holds 26.5 tonnes with a filling volume of 67.6 cubic metres.
See also Container
45ft container
A 45-foot container is a standardised freight and transport container designed for rail but also maritime and road transport and has a volume of 89.2 cubic metres, which allows the transport of up to 33 pallets.
See also Container
45ft container High Cube
High-cube containers are 506 mm higher than other standardised containers. However, the high-cube container is not only available in a 45-foot length, but also in 20-foot and 40-foot lengths.
See also Container
4RP
The 4th Railway Package is a set of 6 legislative texts designed to complete the single market for Rail services (Single European Railway Area). Its overarching goal is to revitalise the rail sector and make it more competitive vis-à-vis other modes of transport. It comprises two 'pillars' which have been negotiated largely in parallel: the "technical pillar" and the "market pillar".