摘要: |
The importance of supply chains between Far East and Europe has increased significantly in the last years. Besides sea routes across the Indian Ocean and the Suez canal, the Trans-Siberian railway (TSR) is an alternative route to import or transit products to Finland and Russia and to export products to the eastern markets. However, there is only little information of physical stresses of the TSR. The objective of this study was to bring understanding of climatic and mechanical stresses that the products undergo during transport along the TSR. The study consisted of a practical measurement with a case shipment from Finland to South Korea in May/June 2007. The analysis was supported with stress data from railway shipments and railcar collision tests in Finland and Western Europe. According to the results, transportation and handling stages on the railway are in line with internationally agreed standards and do not pose special risk for the products. Proper protection of the products is as in railway shipments generally. Compared to the competing sea routes, advantages in speed and corrosion-free environment of the Trans- Siberian railway have to be judged with protection requirements against cold winter climate and temperature gradients. Mechanical stresses during the TSR are in the same level as stresses during typical railway shipments in Finland (and in Western Europe). Maximum shocks witnessed by the products are in line with tests made with VR Cargo and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in Finland. Typically the maximum shocks were generated during lifting and shunting work in railway yards and stations. Continual vibration was also recorded during the whole 2 week transportation. However, mechanical stresses on the railway do not pose significantly higher threat to products than normal sea transport and harbour activities. |