A New Synchronous Handling Technology of Double Stake Container Trains in Sea-Rail Intermodal Terminals

With the advantages of large volume, low unit transportation costs, as well as sustainable and stable transport capacity, China in recent years has actively promoted the innovative pilot of double-stake container sea-rail intermodal transport in the Ningbo-Zhoushan port. In this study, a new synchronous handling technology is proposed to improve the handling efficiency of double-stake container trains at sea-rail intermodal terminals. This research primarily focuses on the design of an LDAGV (Automatic Guided Vehicle with Loading and Discharging Function) and a new special flat wagon for double-stake container trains, while also optimizing the overall layout of the container terminal yard. It then evaluates nine double-stake container stacking forms based on the requirements of transport gauge and center of gravity height. Finally, using data from the Ningbo Beilun No. 3 container terminal, a cost-benefit analysis is performed to compare the traditional handling scheme for common double-stake container trains and the new synchronous handling scheme for double-stake container trains with new special flat wagons. The results show that the application of new synchronous handling technology has obvious advantages in terms of reducing the handling time and operation cost of double-stake container trains in sea-rail intermodal container terminals, as well as enriching the stacking forms of double-tier containers on the new special flat wagon, thus reducing the difficulty of collecting cargoes and the organization of container source.