Where can I find answers about the volume and frequency of rail traffic?
Our colleagues at DB Netz will be happy to provide you with information on the volume and frequency of rail traffic.
Where can I find information about jobs and careers at DB Cargo?
For enquiries about a career at DB Cargo, such as current job offers, internships or other personnel questions, please visit our website or contact the person responsible for the respective job advertisement directly.
Where can I find information on transport units?
Please note that we only transport for business customers and transport almost everything that fits into at least one freight wagon or container / swap body.
Do you already have a concrete idea about your transport?
The hump is the heart of a classification yard. But how exactly does it work?
End of the slider
24. April 2025, 09:22 o'Clock
Article: The ABC of freight transport: hump
The hump is the heart of a classification yard. But how exactly does it work?
The term "hump" would probably be inaccurate to describe the real dimensions of the hump, as a hump is a slightly rising elevation in a classification yard rather than a steep ridge with a beautiful view. However, its function in the composition of freight trains is immensely important: it enables freight cars to be distributed to different tracks by gravity. This is a crucial step in putting freight trains together for their journey in all directions.
How the hump works
Precisely coordinated steps take place on the hump to sort freight trains efficiently: First, a switching locomotive pushes freight cars to the top of the hill. There, the individual wagons are uncoupled by shunting attendants. As soon as they are separated, gravity takes over: the wagons roll slowly and in a controlled manner down the mountain. Further down the line, computer-controlled points control the direction in which the freight cars are steered. At the same time, track braking systems regulate the speed to ensure that the wagons arrive precisely and safely on the designated tracks. This process is supported by restraining shoes, which are laid out by switchmen and slow the wagons down by friction. At the end, they are re-sorted to create a convoy that is ready to travel the next route.
The efficiency of the hump
Efficiency: Hundreds of wagons can be sorted quickly and automatically. Precision: Thanks to modern technology, each wagon is guided precisely to its destination. Sustainability: Large transport volumes are moved with minimal energy consumption.
Insights from the field:
Michel Konermann
Teams of shunting attendants and technicians work on the hump to ensure that everything runs smoothly, while switchmen wait for the wagons in the valley.
"Our job is to monitor the entire process and ensure that the freight cars reach their destination without delays," explains Michel Konermann, shunting supervisor at the Wanne-Eickel classification yard.
The hump is a prime example of efficiency and engineering in freight transport. This is where technology, planning and teamwork come together to lay the foundations for a functioning logistics system.
24. April 2025, 09:22 o'Clock
Go