Five hybrid Konecranes RTGs ordered by Norfolk Southern in the USA

Norfolk Southern Corporation in the USA has ordered five Konecranes hybrid RTGs. Two of the RTGs will go to the Landers Yard intermodal terminal in Chicago IL, and three will go to the Inman Yard intermodal terminal in Atlanta, GA. This order was booked in December 2020. The cranes will be delivered in December 2021.

Norfolk Southern has a history that spans nearly two centuries to the earliest days of American railroading. It has been a Konecranes customer since 2020.

The five hybrid RTGs on order will work intermodal rail tracks with a high degree of eco-efficiency thanks to their hybrid drives. Hybrid Konecranes RTGs are becoming popular in the USA. A number of major US container terminals are operating them with a high degree of satisfaction.

Hybrid Konecranes RTGs are operated with electrical power from the battery and diesel generator. During normal use, power is drawn exclusively from the battery. During peak use, power is drawn from the battery and diesel generator in parallel. Energy from braking is saved and used to recharge the battery. All five hybrid RTGs will be equipped with Konecranes’ Auto-steering smart feature, which keeps the RTG on a pre-programmed, straight path, easing the work of the operator.

The two RTGs going to the Landers Yard will stack containers 1-over-3, working over two rail lines plus one truck lane. The three RTGs going to the Inman Yard will stack containers 1-over-3, working over one rail line and two truck lanes.

This contract is part of Ecolifting, Kone­cranes’ vision to minimize the footprint and improve the handprint of equipment for container terminals. From eco-optimizing diesel drives, to hybridization and fully electrified fleets, we will continue to do more with less.