Marshalling Yards

[RichmondCommu]

G'day,

I recently read with interest that the marshalling yard at Mannheim has been modernised with subsequent increased automatic operation. Indeed capacity has been increased to 150 wagons per hour in each direction. Given the competition from road transport and the containerisation of freight this came as a very welcome surprise!

Two questions for everyone:

1. How has DB managed to keep hold of so much wagon load traffic, particulary when SNCF Fret has lost so much of their own.

2. How many marshalling yards are left in Europe and are they as busy as Mannheim and Maschen?

Many thanks,

Richmond Commuter!

 

[33056]

1. How has DB managed to keep hold of so much wagon load traffic, particulary when SNCF Fret has lost so much of their own.

Might be totally wrong here, but it could have something to do with the large number of private operators in Germany? There are lots of them, some very small outfits which could make a lot of difference where costs are marginal.

2. How many marshalling yards are left in Europe and are they as busy as Mannheim and Maschen?

Other big ones off the top of my head, Köln Gremberg, Mainz Bischofheim, Ingolstadt, München Nord, Kornwestheim (Stuttgart), Kassel (all in Germany), Zürich, Basel Muttenz (Switzerland), Wien Schwechat, Salzburg (Austria)