TRANSFER TERMINAL FOR TRANSFERRING TRAILERS OR SEMI-TRAILERS AND METHOD FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING TRAILERS OR SEMI-TRAILERS ON SAID TERMINAL

摘要

The invention relates to a transfer terminal (1) for transferring trailers or semi-trailers (14), comprising at least one track (2) provided with rails (2a) for admitting a railway vehicle (3), said track (2) being aligned with a ramp or deck (16) for loading and unloading the trailers or semi-trailers (14). The terminal is characterised in that a plurality of lifting devices (4) are installed between the rails (2a), in the subsoil (10) below the track (2), said devices being used for vertically moving platforms (5) for supporting said trailers or semi-trailers (14), and which are moveably mounted on the chassis (6) of the wagons (3a) of said railway vehicle (3); and in that said lifting devices (4) are designed to vertically move said supporting platforms (5) to a loading or unloading position in which said platforms (5) are aligned with the loading and unloading ramp or deck (16) such that said trailers or semi-trailers (14) can be transferred by means of a tractor unit (15) travelling on said railway vehicle (3) while said railway vehicle (3) remains on the track (2) throughout the loading and unloading process.