ACTS

About ACTS

ACTS is a simple horizontal load transfer system from road vehicle to rail. It enables suppliers and customers without their own rail connection to access the rail network at a local siding using their own or haulier’s vehicles. It requires no fixed terminal installations, and can be operated at any railway line or siding positioned beside a 10 metre wide roadway.

How ACTS works

The ACTS system consists of a road vehicle tipper chassis fitted with approved road - rail load transfer equipment using a hook or chain attachment; a rail wagon fitted with specially designed turntables, and container units, typically 5.95 metres long, with payloads varying between 13 and 28 tonnes and up to 30 cu metres capacity according to loading gauge. Equipment can be supplied to meet UIC or UK requirements. The ACTS Megafret version operates with 4 x 7.42m or 6 x 5m long containers per ACTS Megafret pair with a maximum cube / payload of 38cu.m / 18 tonnes per container at the base UK loading gauge of W6A.

Where ACTS is used

ACTS is particularly appropriate for full train load or smaller volume freight flows, or traffic which requires frequently changing points of origin or destination, and is suitable for a wide variety of container body types, including tipper, box, flat, curtain sider, tanker and refrigerated units. Key industry appplications include wastes & recyclables, stone and other bulk materials, timber and building materials, food and drink and chemicals.

Benefits of ACTS

The transfer of containers from rail to road is simple and safe and can be operated by the road vehicle driver in under three minutes, with no additional persons or equipment required. An easily visible, secure locking system enhances the safety of containers during rail transit.

ACTS integrates the intermodal supply chain by eliminating intermediate handling, increasing road and rail vehicle utilisation, significantly reducing intermodal handling costs and making rail more accessible by increasing the number of load transfer points available.