Interface wagon for work train and method for loading a work train

Abstract

Interface wagon (1; 1a, 1b) for a work train (100), configured to receive a granular product (P) loaded from a public works machine (E;Ea, Eb), comprising: - a chassis (2) comprising a frame (4) elongated along a longitudinal axis (X) of the interface wagon (1) between two longitudinal ends (5), and bogies (6) supporting said frame (4), - a first belt conveyor (10) arranged on the frame (4) of the chassis (2) and configured to circulate the granular product (P) along the longitudinal axis (X), - an inclined boom (11) arranged near one of the longitudinal ends (5) of the frame (4) and - a second belt conveyor (12) arranged on the boom (11) and configured to circulate the granular product (P) from one end (19) of the first belt conveyor (10) to the top of the boom (11) so as to allow the granular product (P) to be discharged into an adjacent wagon in which the frame (4) comprises two side walls (14) surrounding the first belt conveyor (10) and configured to receive the loading of granular product (P).;

Description

technical field

[0001] This disclosure falls within the scope of railway infrastructure maintenance and concerns equipment for loading and transporting materials during track renewal. More specifically, it relates to an interface wagon and a work train comprising such a wagon, as well as a method for loading a granular product using such a train. Previous technique

[0002] The renewal of railway tracks consists, among other things, of removing the sleepers, rails and old ballast which form three components of the railway track, removing this used material, supplying the site with new material and laying the new ballast, new sleepers and new rails.

[0003] Railway track maintenance work is scheduled between train passages, particularly at night and on weekends. The intervention time is therefore necessarily limited. For example, track renewal takes place at night over an 8- or 9-hour period, during which 6 hours of actual work are planned.

[0004] The old ballast to be removed represents a mass of approximately 2 to 4 tons per linear meter (m) of railway track. Renewing 100 m of track thus entails the removal of approximately 2,000 to 4,000 tons of old ballast and the transport of an equivalent amount of new ballast. Road transport is not typically used for ballast, whether old or new, which forms aggregate or granular products, as road access is generally unavailable or too time-consuming or environmentally unfriendly.

[0005] Thus, it is known to use work trains comprising wagons for transporting the granular product. The work train may include flat wagons. However, such flat wagons have a relatively low capacity due to their low side walls, specifically a capacity of approximately 35 t for a length of 20 m, or 1.8 t / m.

[0006] Other types of wagons are known as dump wagons. Dump wagons are designed for transporting bulk goods and each has a high-sided body. Other types of wagons specifically designed for transporting aggregates, such as hopper wagons designated EX 80 or EX 100, can also be used. The known wagon types with the highest transport capacities are self-unloading vehicles (VADs), with capacities of, for example, 2.2 t / ml or 2.5 t / ml depending on the model, or material conveyor and silo units (MFSs), for example, the MFS 120 (MaterialFörder und Siloeinheit in German), which have a capacity of 4.3 t / ml.

[0007] These types of wagons, dump wagons, hopper wagons and VAD or MFS have high side walls, which explains their large capacity.

[0008] However, an additional constraint, besides the limited intervention time, concerns the equipment for loading and unloading wagons to and from the construction site. For large-scale projects, highly specialized machines called ballast cleaners are used to load wagons with high side walls, such as VADs or MFSs. However, for smaller projects or those requiring the removal of backfill material in addition to ballast, such machines are not feasible, being either too expensive or unsuitable. In these cases, construction equipment, such as road-rail vehicles, such as excavators, also known as shovels, is used. But such machines cannot load high-sided VADs or MFSs, primarily due to low overhead lines, and can therefore only load materials onto wagons with low side walls, such as flat wagons.

[0009] It should be added that, for certain construction projects, particularly in densely populated areas, the length of work trains is limited by the maximum length of the service tracks available, the traction capacity to pull the train, or the number of braked axles on the locomotive(s). Therefore, a work train with flatcars cannot be very long, for example, longer than 450 meters, to compensate for the limited loading capacity of the flatcars.

[0010] Finally, another constraint is regulatory. Modifying equipment generally requires obtaining a new approval, which is a lengthy process. In particular, it is not possible to modify the height of the wagon's side walls without obtaining a new approval.

[0011] The aim is, of course, to maximize the length of railway track renewed with each intervention. However, it is observed that the limiting factor in the length of track renewed is generally the logistical constraint of transporting materials.

[0012] By increasing material transport capacity, it is possible to increase the linear rate of material replacement per intervention, and / or reduce intervention time, and / or reduce the need for railcar storage on service tracks, and / or optimize operating costs. US 5,203,662 and US 5,944,469 describe railcars for transporting bulk materials.

[0013] There is therefore a need for a work train that increases material transport capacity without significantly lengthening the train, while taking into account the loading height constraints for granular products and regulatory requirements. More specifically, there is a need for a wagon that allows for loading by construction equipment at a low height while still providing a large loading capacity. Summary

[0014] This disclosure improves the situation.

[0015] An interface wagon for work trains is proposed, configured to receive a granular product loaded from a construction vehicle, comprising: a chassis comprising an elongated frame along a longitudinal axis of the interface wagon between two longitudinal ends and bogies supporting said frame, a first belt conveyor disposed on the chassis frame and configured to circulate the granular product along the longitudinal axis, an inclined boom disposed near one of the longitudinal ends of the frame and a second belt conveyor disposed on the boom and configured to circulate the granular product from one end of the first belt conveyor to the top of the boom so as to allow discharge of the granular product into an adjacent wagon.

[0016] The frame has two side walls surrounding the first belt conveyor. The side walls are configured to receive the granular product load.

[0017] We thus have a wagon, which can be of small capacity, allowing the interface between a public works machine other than a ballast cleaner and a wagon which can have a larger capacity, to store and allow the transport of a larger mass of granular product.

[0018] In theory, the maximum storage capacity of the interface wagon can be less than 1 t / ml, for example, approximately 1.8 t / ml, which is equal to the maximum storage capacity of a flat wagon. However, as mentioned, the interface wagon is not designed, in practice, to store granular product, but only to transfer it to the adjacent wagon via the first and second belt conveyors. Thus, unless there is a specific storage requirement, no granular product will be stored in the interface wagon during operation.

[0019] The term "public works equipment" refers to a machine such as an excavator or backhoe, particularly a road-rail type, distinct from a track-clearing machine. The term "granular product" refers to any type of ballast or aggregate extracted from an intervention area during railway track renewal.

[0020] The loading of granular product from the machine into the interface wagon is carried out laterally via the side walls.

[0021] The features described in the following paragraphs may optionally be implemented, independently of each other or in combination with each other:

[0022] The frame may include a base positioned above the axles and supporting the first belt conveyor.

[0023] The frame, for example, includes two extensions positioned on either side wall, forming complementary walls and preferably angled outwards relative to the side walls. The extensions can be fixed to the frame. These extensions can be used to guide the granular product towards the first belt conveyor.

[0024] The height of the side walls, including any additional walls, is less than 1 m, specifically 0.5 m.

[0025] The loading height in such an interface wagon, measured from the top of the rail on which the interface wagon rests—that is, from the lowest point of a wheel of the wagon in contact with the rail—is between 1 m and 2 m, preferably approximately 1.5 m. This allows for loading at a low height using construction equipment. "Loading height" refers to the minimum height at which the interface wagon can be loaded using construction equipment.

[0026] The interface wagon may include a drive system to rotate the first and second belt conveyors. Such a drive system may be, for example, a combustion engine, an electric motor, or a hydrogen engine. The drive system may also power auxiliary functions such as lighting, or other functions.

[0027] The chassis typically consists of two bogies, positioned under the frame, near its longitudinal ends. Each bogie usually carries two railway axles, each comprising an axle and two wheels.

[0028] The bogies are preferably motorized, particularly hydraulically or electrically. The bogie drive enables the movement of the interface wagon and potentially at least one adjacent wagon, or even several adjacent wagons, for example, in the absence of a locomotive. This allows the interface wagon to move independently on the worksite. The interface wagon can be remotely controlled by an operator. The speed of an interface wagon, whose movement is controlled by its own motor, is preferably relatively low, for example, less than 2 km / h. The motor is advantageously sized for such a relatively low speed.

[0029] The frame may have two pads at its longitudinal ends. The frame may extend between the two pads over a length of between 15 ml and 25 ml, specifically between 18 ml and 21 ml.

[0030] The throughput of the first and second belt conveyors is for example between 800 m³ / h and 1200 m³ / h of granular product, being in particular equal to approximately 1000 m³ / h.

[0031] In another aspect, in combination with the above, a work train is proposed comprising an interface car as defined above, and a granular product transport car forming said adjacent car positioned next to said interface car so as to receive the discharge of granular product from the second belt conveyor of the interface car. The transport car is preferably configured to support the boom of the interface car.

[0032] Such a train allows the interface wagon to be loaded at a low height with a piece of construction equipment, while simultaneously providing ample storage capacity during transport thanks to the transport wagon. Indeed, the transport wagon offers a significantly greater maximum storage capacity than the interface wagon.

[0033] The train may consist of two interface cars arranged side by side, namely a first and a second interface car. In this case, the second interface car is adjacent to the transport car that forms the adjacent car. Also in this case, the first interface car is adjacent to the second interface car on the opposite side from the transport car. The first interface car may be similar or identical to the second interface car, which constitutes the adjacent car into which the granular product is discharged from the second conveyor of the first interface car.

[0034] In this scenario, a first piece of construction equipment can load the first interface wagon, and a second piece of construction equipment can load the second interface wagon. This increases the loading rate of granular material onto the work train.

[0035] The second interface car advantageously includes a boom support configured to support the boom of the first interface car. Such a boom support is advantageously located near a longitudinal end of the second interface car opposite to the end closest to the boom.

[0036] Each of the first and second interface cars preferably has a backup motor in case the other interface car's motor fails. This ensures independent operation of both interface cars, even if one of them fails. Such a backup motor can power the bogies and / or the first and second conveyors.

[0037] The work train may include at least two high-capacity granular material storage wagons, each with a maximum storage capacity well above 1 t / ml, preferably above 2 t / ml, or even above 3 t / ml. The transport wagons are preferably selected from the group consisting of VADs and MFSs. Each transport wagon may include a belt conveyor and a boom equipped with a belt conveyor. At least some of the transport wagons may include a boom support configured to support the boom of the adjacent wagon preceding it in the direction of granular material flow. This allows the granular material to be moved from one transport wagon to the next, up to the last transport wagon. When this last wagon is full, the penultimate transport wagon is loaded, and so on until, for example, all the transport wagons in the work train are full.The last transport wagon may not have an arrow. The number of transport wagons may be between 1 and 20.

[0038] Such a train allows for the storage of a large quantity of granular material, optimizing the train length while respecting loading height and regulatory constraints. Thus, the intervention time can be reduced for the same length of track renewal, and / or the length of track renewal during an intervention can be increased for the same intervention time.

[0039] The train may include at least one locomotive, for example hydrogen, electric or diesel, configured to pull all or part of the wagons.

[0040] According to another aspect, in combination with the above, a method is proposed for loading a work train as defined above with a granular product, comprising: a. loading of the granular product onto the first belt conveyor of the interface wagon(s) at the side walls using a construction vehicle, b. conveying the granular product on the first and second belt conveyors to the transport wagon.

[0041] Such loading can be carried out using a separate construction vehicle from a ballast cleaner, at a low height on the interface wagon, while the granular product can be stored for transport in large quantities thanks to the transport wagon with a large storage capacity.

[0042] Thus, the various constraints mentioned above are satisfied while maximizing the loading capacity of the work train with granular product.

[0043] Granular material can be loaded from a construction site if used granular material needs to be removed. It can also be new material loaded from a loading platform and destined for a construction site requiring a supply of new material. The work train can be used first to remove used granular material and then to supply new granular material. Brief description of the drawings

[0044] Other features, details, and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description below and analyzing the attached drawings, on which: [ Fig. 1 [ ] schematically shows, in side view, an example of an interface wagon. ] Fig. 2 ] shows in schematic cross-sectional view along II-II the interface wagon of the figure 1 . [ Fig. 3 [ ] shows a schematic cross-sectional view along III-III according to one embodiment. ] Fig. 4[ ] shows, in a schematic and partial side view, an example of a work train. ] Fig. 5 [ ] shows a schematic and partial top view of an example of a work train during the implementation of a loading process according to an example. Fig. 6 [ ] shows a schematic and partial top view of an example of a work train during the implementation of a loading process according to another example. ] Fig. 7 [ ] shows a schematic and partial top view of an example of a work train during the implementation of a loading process according to another example. ] Fig. 8 ] shows a schematic and partial top view of an example of a work train during the implementation of a loading process according to another example. Description of the implementation methods

[0045] In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. For the sake of brevity, only the elements that are useful for understanding the example described are shown in the figures and are described in detail below.

[0046] In the description that follows, when referring to absolute position qualifiers, such as the terms "front", "back", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", etc., or relative position qualifiers, such as the terms "above", "below", "superior", "inferior", etc., or to orientation qualifiers, such as "horizontal", "vertical", etc., reference is made, unless otherwise specified, to the orientation of the figures or of a wagon or train in its position of movement on rails.

[0047] Reference is now being made to the figure 1This figure represents an interface wagon 1 for a work train, configured to receive a granular product P loaded from a piece of construction equipment, not shown in this figure but represented later, in this example by a road-rail excavator. The granular product P consists of ballast or other granular material extracted during railway track renewal. The interface wagon 1 is shown on rails R, represented by dashed lines in this figure.

[0048] The interface wagon 1 comprises a chassis 2 having a frame 4 extended along a longitudinal axis X of the interface wagon 1 between two longitudinal ends 5 of the frame 4. The interface wagon 1 further comprises bogies 6 comprising railway axles 7, themselves having wheels and a transverse axle 3 for connecting the wheels, in a manner known per se. As seen on the figure 2, the interface wagon 1 includes a first belt conveyor 10 arranged on the frame 4 of the chassis 2 and configured to circulate the granular product P along the longitudinal axis X.

[0049] The interface car 1 also has an upward-sloping arrow 11 located near one of the longitudinal ends 5 of the frame 4. The arrow 11 forms an inclined section, one end 8 of which is located at the level of the conveyor belt 10, and a second end 9, opposite the first, is situated at a height greater than the height of the rest of the interface car 1, as can be seen in the figure 1The interface wagon 1 has a second belt conveyor 12 arranged on the boom 11 and configured to circulate the granular product from the end 19 of the first belt conveyor 10 to the top of the boom 11, at the second end 9 thereof, so as to permit discharge of the granular product P into an adjacent wagon, not shown in this figure, which will be illustrated and presented later.

[0050] The granular product P arrives on the first belt conveyor 10 laterally to it, laterally to the interface wagon 1. The granular product P travels by means of the first belt conveyor 10 and then the second belt conveyor 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow on the figure 1 .

[0051] In theory, the maximum storage capacity of the interface wagon 1 is in this example equal to approximately 1 t / ml, that is to say of the order of the maximum capacity of a flat wagon.

[0052] As seen on the figure 2The frame 4 has a base 13 positioned above the axles 3 and supporting the first belt conveyor 10. The frame 4 has two side walls 14 surrounding the first belt conveyor 10 and configured to receive the granular product P loading. These two side walls are of low height, for example, h less than 0.5 m. They extend along the longitudinal axis X and are positioned on either side of the base 13, laterally to it. The side walls 14 are vertical in this example. In the illustrated example, the frame 4 has two extensions 15 positioned respectively on the two side walls 14, forming complementary walls and, in this example, inclined outwards and upwards relative to the side walls 14. It remains within the scope of this disclosure whether the side walls are made in one piece or otherwise, whether they are vertical or inclined along their entire height.The risers can be fixed, removable or retractable. They can be used to guide the granular product P towards the first belt conveyor 10 during loading using a construction vehicle.

[0053] The loading height Hc in such an interface wagon 1, measured from the top of the rail R on which the interface wagon 1 rests—that is, from a lower point on a wheel of the interface wagon 1 in contact with the rail—is, for example, between 1 m and 2 m, in this example approximately 1.5 m. It is therefore possible to load laterally onto the interface wagon 1 at a low height, using the construction equipment, in such a way as to comply with the loading height requirements.

[0054] Interface wagon 1 has a low capacity, not being designed to store granular product, but it allows the interface between a construction vehicle other than a ballast cleaner and a wagon which can have a larger storage capacity, to store and allow the transport of a larger mass of granular product P. Interface wagon 1 can nevertheless store granular product if needed, at a rate of about 1 t / ml.

[0055] In the illustrated example, interface wagon 1 has a motor 16 to rotate the first and second belt conveyors 10 and 12. In addition, the bogies 6 are motorized. This allows interface wagon 1 to operate independently of other wagons or to pull one or more adjacent wagons.

[0056] Frame 4 has two buffers 17 arranged respectively at its longitudinal ends 5. Frame 4 extends between the two buffers 17 over a length L between 15 ml and 25 ml, in this example equal to approximately 18 ml.

[0057] The flow rate of the first and second belt conveyors 10 and 12 is for example between 800 m³ / h and 1200 m³ / h of granular product P, being in particular equal to approximately 1000 m³ / h.

[0058] The interface car 1 also has a boom bracket 18 located near one of the longitudinal ends 5 opposite the longitudinal end 5 near which the boom 11 is located. The boom bracket 18 can support a boom from another car. The boom bracket 18 is thus useful if another car with a boom is present next to the interface car 1, on the side of the boom bracket 18. Such another car, whose boom is shown in dashed lines on the figure 1, may be a wagon with a similar or identical interface to wagon with interface 1, or may be another type of wagon. This is visualized on the figure 1 that this other wagon located on the side of the arrow holder 18 has its arrow actually placed on the arrow holder 18.

[0059] We have represented on the figure 4 An example of a work train 100 comprising an interface car 1 and a transport car 20 for the granular product P forming an adjacent car positioned next to the interface car 1, on the side of the boom 11, so as to receive the discharge of granular product P from the second belt conveyor 12 of the interface car 1. The transport car 20 is also configured to support the boom 11 of the interface car 1. In the illustrated example, the transport car 20 has a much greater height than the interface car 1, which gives it a greater storage capacity during transport.

[0060] Such a work train 100 allows the interface wagon 1 to be loaded at a low height with granular product P using a construction vehicle operating at a height compatible with low-height catenaries, while providing a large storage capacity of granular product P for transport thanks to the transport wagon 20.

[0061] In the example shown on the figure 4The work train 100 comprises two interface cars 1 arranged side by side, namely a first interface car 1a and a second interface car 1b. In this case, the second interface car 1b is adjacent to the transport car 20, which forms the adjacent car. The first interface car 1a is adjacent to the second interface car 1b, opposite the transport car 20. The first interface car 1a is identical in this example to the second interface car 1b, which constitutes the adjacent car for the first interface car 1a, into which the granular product P is discharged from the second conveyor 12 of the first interface car 1a. The second interface car 1b has a boom 18 supporting the boom 11 of the first interface car 1a.

[0062] We view on the figure 5that a first construction vehicle Ea can load the first interface wagon 1a and a second construction vehicle Eb can load the second interface wagon 1b.

[0063] Each of the first and second interface wagons 1a and 1b in this example includes a backup system in case of a motor failure in one of the first and second interface wagons 1a and 1b. Such a backup system allows, for example, the interface wagon to motorize the first and second conveyors of the adjacent interface wagon with a motor failure.

[0064] The backup system may include backup batteries and / or a backup motor. Alternatively, or additionally, the backup system may include a hydraulic cable and connectors on each interface car to connect the interface car with a failed motor to the other interface car, designated as the "backup." This ensures that both interface cars 1a and 1b maintain their motor operation even if one of them fails. The backup motor also ensures the proper operation of the first and second belt conveyors 10 and 12 for each interface car 1a and 1b, even if one of them fails.It should be noted that in the event of a failure of the motorization of the bogies of one of the interface wagons, the motorization of the bogies of the other interface wagon may be sufficient to allow the autonomous movement of the whole of the two interface wagons 1a and 1B.

[0065] Work train 100 includes, still in the example of the figure 5at least two high-capacity transport wagons 20, two of which are visible in this figure. The transport wagons 20 are VADs in this example. Each transport wagon 20 itself has a belt conveyor 21 and a boom 22 equipped with a belt conveyor 23. At least some of the transport wagons may have a boom support configured to support the boom of the adjacent, preceding wagon. The belt conveyors 21 and 23 allow the granular product P to be moved from one transport wagon 20 to the next, up to the last transport wagon 20. When this last wagon is full, the penultimate transport wagon 20 is loaded, and so on until all the transport wagons 20 of the work train 100 are full. The last transport wagon may not have a boom.

[0066] Such a work train (100) allows for the storage of a large quantity of granular product P without increasing the train's length, while still complying with loading height and regulatory requirements. Therefore, the intervention time can be reduced for the same length of track renewal, and / or the track renewal length during a single intervention can be increased for the same intervention time.

[0067] The work train 100 may include at least one locomotive, for example electric or diesel or hydrogen, configured to pull all or part of the wagons.

[0068] We can also view it on the figure 5The method for loading the work train 100 with the granular product P involves loading the granular product P onto the first conveyor belt 10 of the interface wagon(s) 1, denoted 1a and 1b respectively, at the side walls 14 using one or more pieces of construction equipment Ea and Eb. The method then involves conveying the granular product P on the first conveyor belt 10 and the second conveyor belt 12 to the transport wagon 20. The conveying of the granular product P continues using the conveyor belts 21 and 23 of the transport wagon(s) 20 as explained above.

[0069] We have represented on the figure 6Another example of the implementation of this disclosure. In this example, 20 transport cars loaded with granular product P can be unloaded onto platforms called unloading areas, which is very difficult to imagine if the transport cars were flatcars. In this case, the operation is organized with a shuttle of a set of 20 transport cars that are either VADs or MFSs, which shuttle ensures the transfers of granular product P, according to the double arrow illustrated on the figure 6 From the loading station Zc at the construction site, using construction equipment Ea and Eb, the load is moved to the unloading area Zd. This saves intervention time, as loading takes place on one side while unloading occurs on the other. On the figure 6, we visualize the shuttle 50 formed by three transport wagons 20 and a locomotive of the work train 100 located in the unloading area Zd, while the rest of the work train 100 is being loaded at the loading station Zc, on the construction site.

[0070] One can still use the interface wagon(s) 1, as illustrated on the figure 7 The purpose of this operation is to transport fresh granular product P from a loading platform located along the track to the construction site, thus supplying it with fresh granular product P. The work train 100 can then make round trips, as shown by the double arrow in this figure, between the construction site, which constitutes the unloading zone Zd, and the loading zone Zc at the platform. It is clear that the construction equipment Ea and Eb used are road-mobile excavators in this example.

[0071] In the implementation of the figure 8 The construction site includes a Z1 zone where used granular product P is removed and disposed of using work train 100, as described opposite the figure 5 and another zone Z2 where a new granular product P is unloaded and deposited on the construction site using construction equipment. The train loaded with new granular product P could be a work train 100, for example. This can be visualized on the figure 8 The unloading of new granular product P using a conveyor belt 51 in the railway track renovation area allows for the simultaneous loading of used granular product P and the unloading of new granular product P in two different areas of the worksite. This results in time savings during the operation.

[0072] The number of interface 1 wagons can be between 1 and 3. In particular, a work train 100 can include three interface 1 wagons, which can be loaded with granular product P simultaneously.

Claims

1. Interface car (1; 1a, 1b) for a work train (100), configured to receive a granular product (P) loaded from a public works machine (E; Ea, Eb), comprising: - a chassis (2) comprising a frame (4) elongated along a longitudinal axis (X) of the interface car (1) between two longitudinal ends (5) and bogies (6) supporting said frame (4), - a first belt conveyor (10) disposed on the frame (4) of the chassis (2) and configured to circulate the granular product (P) along the longitudinal axis (X), - an inclined rise (11) disposed near one of the longitudinal ends (5) of the frame (4) and - a second belt conveyor (12) disposed on the rise (11) and configured to circulate the granular product (P) from one end (19) of the first belt conveyor (10) to the top of the rise (11) so as to allow a discharge of the granular product (P) into an adjacent car, wherein the frame (4) comprises two side walls (14) surrounding the first belt conveyor (10), characterised in that the side walls (14) are configured to receive the loading of granular product (P) so that the loading of granular product from the machine into the interface car is carried out laterally via the side walls, the height of the side walls (14) comprising any additional walls being less than 1 m, the loading height (Hc) in the interface car, from a lower point of a wheel of the car in contact with the rail, being between 1m and 2 m.

2. Car (1; 1a, 1b) according to claim 1, wherein the frame (4) comprises a bottom (13) disposed above the axles (3) and supporting the first belt conveyor (10).

3. Car (1; 1a, 1b) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame (4) comprises two extensions (15) disposed respectively on the two side walls (14), forming complementary walls preferably disposed in a manner inclined towards the outside with respect to the side walls (14).

4. Car (1; 1a, 1b) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading height (Hc) from the top of a rail (R) on which the interface car (1; 1a, 1b) rests is equal to about 1.5 m.

5. Car (1; 1a, 1b) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a motorisation (16) for driving the first and second belt conveyors (10, 12) in rotation.

6. Car (1; 1a, 1b) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bogies (6) are motorised.

7. Work train (100) comprising an interface car (1; 1a, 1b) according to any one of the preceding claims, and a car (20) for transporting the granular product (P) forming said adjacent car disposed next to said interface car (1; 1a, 1b) so as to receive the discharge of granular product (P) from the second belt conveyor (12) of the interface car (1; 1a, 1b).

8. Train (100) according to the preceding claim, comprising two interface cars (1; 1a, 1b) arranged side by side, namely a first and a second interface car (1; 1a, 1b), each of the two interface cars (1; 1a, 1b) comprising a backup motorisation in the event of failure of the motorisation of the other of the first and second two interface cars (1; 1a, 1b).

9. Train (100) according to claim 7 or 8, comprising at least two transport cars (20) with a large granular product (P) storage capacity, each having in particular a maximum capacity greater than 2 t / m, preferably selected from the group consisting of VADs and MFSs.

10. Method for loading a work train (100) according to any one of claims 7 to 9 with a granular product (P), comprising: a. loading the granular product (P) onto the first belt conveyor (10) of the interface car(s) (1; 1a, 1b) via the side walls (14) using a public works machine (E; Ea, Eb), the loading height (Hc) in the interface car, from a lower point of a wheel of the car in contact with the rail, being between 1m and 2m, b. conveying the granular product (P) to the transport car (20) on the first belt conveyor (10) and the second belt conveyor (12).

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