Cargo Wagon Fleet Ready for Quiet Operation

November 2025

Cargo Wagon completes retrofit of wagons with low-noise brake blocks. The project was implemented within a European consortium led by VPI and involving 14 wagon keepers, and was co-financed by the European Union.

Cargo Wagon, a.s. has completed the retrofit of its freight wagons, replacing cast-iron brake blocks with low-noise composite brake blocks (Low friction – Low noise) in accordance with the TSI NOISE technical standard. Between January 2021 and December 2025, brake blocks were replaced on 1,191 wagons, and Cargo Wagon now operates an entirely low-noise wagon fleet.

For our customers, low-noise wagons mean greater operational flexibility. In Slovakia, low-noise lines account for approximately 370 km of the railway network, mainly on the main corridors. In some European countries, such as Germany and Switzerland, only low-noise wagons are now permitted to operate.

The aim of the TSI NOISE standard is to reduce noise from freight rail transport and to increase line capacity in more densely populated areas. As freight trains operate predominantly at night, Cargo Wagon’s low-noise wagon fleet also represents an important contribution to reducing railway noise and improving the quality of the environment in Europe.

The retrofit of Cargo Wagon’s wagons was carried out as part of the European project European Consortium of VPI and UIP member companies retrofitting brakes for noise reduction (21-EU-TG-EC4 NoiseReduction). The project is co-financed by the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and involves 14 wagon keepers participating in an international consortium led by VPI European Rail Service GmbH.

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Cargo Wagon, a.s. and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.