SIST EN 16973:2018

Road vehicles for combined goods transport - Semitrailer - Vertical transhipment

This European Standard describes the railway-specific requirements relating to semi-trailers which are transported by rail with pocket wagons. For this, the semi-trailers is meant to be suitable for handling by crane. They are handled by gantry cranes or mobile transhipment equipment by the grappler pockets using grabs and lifted into the pocket wagons. The semi-trailers rests with their wheels on the sunken loading area (pocket) of the wagon and at the front with the fifth-wheel plate on the jack. The king pin is locked in the jack and is responsible for the fixing of the semi-trailer in all directions and hence also for withstanding the relevant forces.

Straßenfahrzeuge für den kombinierten Verkehr - Sattelanhänger - Vertikalumschlag, Anforderungen

Diese Europäische Norm beschreibt die eisenbahnspezifischen Anforderungen an Sattelanhänger, die auf der Schiene mit Taschenwagen transportiert werden. Die Sattelanhänger müssen dafür kranbar sein. Sie werden von Portalkranen oder mobilen Umschlaggeräten mit Greifzangen an den Greifkanten gefasst und in die Taschenwagen gehoben. Die Sattelanhänger stehen mit den Rädern auf der tiefliegenden Ladefläche (Tasche) des Waggons und vorne mit der Sattelplatte auf dem Stützbock auf. Der Zugsattelzapfen wird im Stützbock gehalten und übernimmt die Fixierung des Sattelanhängers in alle Richtungen und somit auch die entsprechenden Kräfte.

Véhicules routiers destinés au transport combiné - Semi-remorque - Transbordement vertical

La présente Norme européenne décrit les exigences ayant trait spécifiquement au transport ferroviaire et applicables aux semi-remorques transportées dans des wagons à poche. À cette fin, les semi remorques sont destinées à être adaptées à la manutention par des grues. Elles sont manipulées par des portiques roulants ou des engins de transbordement mobiles, qui les saisissent au niveau de leur zone de préhension à l’aide de pinces, et elles sont levées et chargées dans des wagons à poche. Les semi remorques, avec leurs roues, reposent sur la zone de chargement abaissée (appelée la poche) du wagon, la plaque d'attelage située sur leur partie avant étant sur la sellette du wagon. Le pivot d'attelage est verrouillé dans la sellette et assure l'immobilisation de la semi-remorque dans toutes les directions, il résiste donc aux forces qui en découlent.

Cestna vozila za kombiniran prevoz - Polpriklopnik - Vertikalno pretovarjanje

Ta evropski standard opisuje specifične železniške zahteve za polpriklopnike, ki jih prevažajo po železnici z žepastimi vagoni. Polpriklopniki morajo biti primerni za upravljanje z žerjavom. S čeljustmi jih s portalnimi žerjavi ali z mobilnimi napravami za pretovarjanje zgrabijo za prijemalne žepe in dvignejo v žepaste vagone. Polpriklopniki stojijo s kolesi na spuščenem nakladalnem območju (žepu) vagona in spredaj s ploščo petega kolesa na dvigalki. Premni sornik je v dvigalki in je namenjen pritrditvi polpriklopnika v vseh smereh in s tem tudi za to, da prenaša ustrezne sile.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 14-Feb-2016
• Publication Date: 17-Dec-2017
• ICS: 43.080.10 - Trucks and trailers
• Technical Committee: I13 - Imaginarni 13
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 22-Nov-2017
• Due Date: 27-Jan-2018
• Completion Date: 18-Dec-2017
• Ref Project: EN 16973:2017 - Road vehicles for combined transport - Semitrailer - Vertical transhipment

Overview

EN 16973:2017 (CEN) defines railway-specific requirements for road vehicles used in combined transport - specifically semitrailers intended for vertical transhipment into pocket wagons. The standard ensures semitrailers are crane-compatible and suitable for handling by gantry or mobile transhipment equipment via grappler pockets. It addresses dimensional limits, lifting interfaces, structural strength and marking to support safe, damage-free rail transport.

Key Topics

• Scope and purpose: Requirements for semitrailers to be transported on pocket wagons and handled vertically by cranes.
• Swept envelope: Defines the maximum space a semitrailer may occupy (empty or loaded) when positioned in a pocket wagon. The lower swept envelope is determined by wagon design; the upper is limited by the track profile. Components that can move must be secured and documented by drawing to prevent interference or damage.
• King pin: Standard 2-inch king pin with a D-value of at least 162 kN. The king pin must comply with Directive 94/20/EC:2014 and provide positive fixing in the wagon jack.
• Air suspension: Semitrailers shall be equipped with air suspension; transhipment and transport are carried out with suspension in the lowest position and brakes disengaged.
• Grappler pockets: Dimensions and positioning of grappler pockets are specified so crane grabs can engage reliably. The standard includes dimensional diagrams and specifies reinforcement, clearances and visual marking areas for grab engagement.
• Lifting strength: A semitrailer uniformly loaded to 1.25 × R (where R is the permissible total weight) must be liftable by the grappler pockets for at least 5 minutes without permanent deformation. An FEM calculation may be used as alternative evidence if validated by practical tests.
• Structural strength & marking: Structural operational requirements reference UIC 596-5; marking follows EN 13044-3 and UIC coding guidance to ensure units are identifiable and compatible with combined transport operations.

Applications

EN 16973:2017 is directly applicable to:

• Manufacturers designing semitrailers for intermodal use on pocket wagons.
• Fleet operators converting or certifying vehicles for rail transport.
• Terminal operators and crane equipment providers verifying safe handling interfaces.
• Inspectors and certifiers checking compliance with dimensional envelopes, grappler pocket engagement and lifting strength.

Benefits include improved safety during vertical transhipment, reduced damage risk, predictable interfacing with pocket wagons and clearer requirements for marking and documentation.

Related Standards

• EN 13044-3 - Marking of semitrailers related to rail operation
• UIC 596-5 / UIC 596-6 - Technical organisation and coding for conveyance of semitrailers in pocket wagons
• ISO 1726 series and UN/ECE Regulation No. 55 (referenced for coupling and steering compatibility)

For procurement, design checks and certification, reference EN 16973:2017 alongside the cited UIC and EN documents to ensure full compliance with combined transport and vertical transhipment requirements.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Cestna vozila za kombiniran prevoz - Polpriklopnik - Vertikalno pretovarjanjeStraßenfahrzeuge für den kombinierten Verkehr - Sattelanhänger - Vertikalumschlag, AnforderungenRoad vehicles for combined goods transport - Semitrailer - Vertical transhipment43.080.10Tovornjaki in priklopnikiTrucks and trailersICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 16973:2017SIST EN 16973:2018en,fr,de01-februar-2018SIST EN 16973:2018SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 16973
November
t r s y ICS
v uä r z rä s r English Version
Road vehicles for combined transport æ Semitrailer æ Vertical transhipment Vßhicules routiers destinßs au transport combinß æ Semiæremorque æ Transbordement vertical
Straßenfahrzeuge für den kombinierten Verkehr æ Sattelanhänger æ Vertikalumschlag This European Standard was approved by CEN on
t s August
t r s yä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Serbiaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey and United Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
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t r s y CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s x { y uã t r s y ESIST EN 16973:2018
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