Annex III — TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NETWORK OF IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL COMBINED TRANSPORT LINES Europese Overeenkomst inzake belangrijke lijnen voor het internationaal gecombineerd vervoer en daarmee samenhangende installaties (AGTC)
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NETWORK OF IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL COMBINED TRANSPORT LINES
Preliminary remarks
The parameters are summarized in the table below. The values shown in column A of the table are to be regarded as important objectives to be reached in accordance with national railway development plans. Any divergence from these values should be regarded as exceptional.
Lines have been divided into two main categories:
a) Existing lines, capable of being improved where appropriate; it is often difficult and sometimes impossible to modify, for instance, their geometrical characteristics, and the requirements have to be eased for such lines;
b) New lines to be built.
By analogy, the specifications given in the following table also apply, where appropriate, to ferry-boat services which are an integral part of the railway network.
INFRASTRUCTURE PARAMETERS FOR THE NETWORK OF IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL COMBINED TRANSPORT LINES
A | B
Existing lines which meet the infrastructure requirements and lines to be improved or reconstructed | New Lines
at present | target values
1. Number of tracks | (not specified) | 2
2. Vehicle loading gauge (minimum infrastructure gauge) | | UIC B1) | UIC C1)
3. (Minimum) distance between track centres2) | | 4.0 m | 4.2 m
4. Nominal minimum speed | 100 km/h3) | 120 km/h3) | 120 km/h3)
5. Authorized mass per axle:
5a. Locomotives (≤ 200 km/h)
5b. Rail cars and rail motor sets (≤ 300 km/h)
5c. Carriages
5d. Wagons | ≤ 100 km/h | 20 t | 22.5 t | 22.5 t
≤ 120 km/h | 20 t | 20 t | 20 t
≤ 140 km/h
6. Authorized mass per linear meter j/
7. Test train (bridge design)
8. Maximum (rising and falling) gradient k/ | | 12.5 mm/m
9. Minimum platform length in principal stations (platforms)
10. Minimum useful siding length | 750 m | 750 m
11. Level crossings
1) UIC: International Union of Railways.
2) Not of immediate relevance for combined transport, but recommended for efficient international combined transport.
3) Minimum standards for combined transport trains (see annex IV).
Explanation of the parameters contained in the table above
1. Number of tracks
International combined transport lines must provide high capacity and allow for precise timing of operation.
It is generally possible to meet both requirements only on lines with at least two tracks; however, single track lines would be allowed if the other parameters of the Agreement are complied with.
2. Vehicle loading gauge
This is the minimum loading gauge for international combined transport lines. On new lines, only a small marginal investment cost is normally incurred by adopting a high loading gauge, and the UIC C gauge has therefore been chosen.
The C gauge allows, for instance:
The transport of road goods vehicles and road trains (lorry with trailer, articulated vehicle, tractor and semi-trailer) conforming to the European road loading gauge (height 4 m, width 2.5 m) on special wagons with a loading height of 60 cm above rail level;
The transport of ordinary road semi-trailers 2.5 m wide and 4 m high on recess wagons with normal bogies;
The transport of ISO containers 2.44 m wide and 2.9 m high on ordinary flat wagons; The transport of swap bodies 2.5 m wide on ordinary flat wagons;
The transport of containers/swap bodies 2.6 m wide and 2.9 m high on suitable wagons.
The existing lines across mountainous regions (such as the Pyrenees, Massif Central, Alps, Jura, Appenines, Carpathians) have many tunnels conforming to the Technical Unit loading gauge, or gauges of slightly greater height at the centre of the track. Increasing this to conform to the UIC C gauge is in almost all cases impossible from the economic and financial standpoints.
The UIC B gauge has therefore been chosen for these lines, as it allows, for instance:
The transport of ISO containers, 2.44 m wide and 2.90 m high, on flat container-wagons with a loading height 1.18 m above rail level;
The transport of swap bodies, 2.5 m wide and 2.6 m high, on ordinary flat wagons (loading height 1.246 m);
The transport of semi-trailers on recess wagons; The transport of containers/swap bodies, 2.6 m wide and 2.9 m high, on special low-loader wagons.
Most of the existing international combined transport lines offer at least the UIC B gauge. In the case of the others, improvement to this standard does not normally require major investments.
4. Nominal minimum speed
The nominal minimum speed determines the geometrical characteristics of the section (radius of curves and cant), the safety installations (braking distances) and the braking coefficient of the rolling stock.
5. Authorized mass per axle
This is the authorized mass per axle which international combined transport lines should be able to bear.
International combined transport lines should be capable of taking the most modern existing and future vehicle traffic, in particular:
Wagons with a mass per axle of 20 tonnes, which corresponds to UIC class C; a wagon mass per axle of 22.5 tonnes up to 100 km/h has been adopted, in conformity with recent UIC decisions. The mass per axle limits of 20 tonnes for a speed of 120 km/h are those set by the UIC regulations. The mass per axle values shown are for a wheel diameter of not less than 840 mm, in accordance with the UIC regulations.
10. Minimum useful siding length
The minimum useful siding length on international combined transport lines is significant for combined transport trains (see annex IV).
- Regeling
- Europese Overeenkomst inzake belangrijke lijnen voor het internationaal gecombineerd vervoer en daarmee samenhangende installaties (AGTC)
- Soort
- Verdrag
- Geldend vanaf
- 11-12-2025
- BWB-id
- BWBV0003285
- Versie
- 2025-12-11_0