The case study of the cargobeamer system use in rail transport in Slovakia

The railway transport of goods was in past the most used type of transport. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the performance of this mode of transport was reduced. At present, international trade is expanding in the direction of Asia–Europe. For economic and, above all, ecological reasons, it is appropriate to move the transport operations back to rail transport. The article focuses on progressive systems of railway transport of freight in the East–West direction, namely the use of the CargoBeamer system. CargoBeamer system (hereinafter referred to as CB) is an innovative technology for the transport of road semi-trailers and containers CBoXX specially designed for the CB system. The main advantage of this system is to support the transport standard road semitrailers, which will be implemented in 70% of shipments in road transport in the EU. The CB system is largely automated, especially for horizontal loading and unloading or when changing the gauge. The CB system allows to lower the shipment time significantly, thanks to automatisation of loading and unloading processes and gauge change. The benefits of the CB system are presented by an example of the necessary manipulation operations by a China– Russia– Europe goods shipment. The possibilities of the Slovak Republic participation on the planned railway Silk road project from China to Europe is also discu