UIC Leaflet 70017: Securing and Testing of Intermodal Loading Units

What is UIC Leaflet 70017?

UIC Leaflet 70017 is a critical standard for Combined Transport, titled “Technical conditions for the construction and use of intermodal loading units.” It specifically governs how containers, swap bodies, and semi-trailers must be designed and tested to ensure they can be safely transported by rail.

The primary focus of this leaflet is to define the interface between the Rolling Stock (the wagon) and the cargo. As trains travel at high speeds and undergo significant shunting forces, the Structural Integrity of the loading units and their securing devices is paramount for Operational Safety.

Technical Requirements for Loading Units

For a container or swap body to be “rail-eligible,” it must satisfy specific technical criteria regarding its strength and dimensions:

• Vertical Loading Strength: The unit must be able to withstand the vertical accelerations encountered during transit without the floor or the Underframe buckling.
• Securing Points: Standardized locations and strength requirements for corner castings (twist-lock points) or “grappler pockets” used by cranes.
• Roof and Wall Stability: Requirements for resistance against air pressure pulses, which occur when two trains pass each other at high speed in a tunnel.

The “UIC Coding” System (Yellow and Red Labels)

UIC 70017 establishes the categorization system that allows Infrastructure Management to verify if a load fits the track’s Gauge.

• The ILU Code: Every unit is assigned a code (e.g., P400) that relates its height and width to the specific kinematic envelope of the rail line.
• Compatibility Testing: Methods for “static” and “dynamic” testing to ensure that the unit does not shift or lean excessively during curves, which could cause a violation of the clearance gauge.

Safety and Securing Devices

The leaflet dictates how the loading unit must interact with the wagon’s securing devices (spigots/twist-locks):

• Longitudinal Forces: The securing devices must withstand the forces of “hump shunting” where accelerations can reach several Gs.
• Automatic Securing: Requirements for gravity-based or spring-loaded spigots that lock automatically when the unit is lowered onto the wagon.

Comparison: Swap Bodies vs. ISO Containers (UIC 70017 context)