Marvel of technology: transporter bridge 2.0

There are only eight hover ferries in the world. One of them is located in Schleswig-Holstein, attached below the historic railroad bridge that connects Rendsburg to the north of the canal with Osterrönfeld to the south. And this is exactly what makes the Rendsburg transporter bridge so unique. First put into operation in 1913, the old model crossed the canal for over 100 years. The new transporter bridge is now continuing this tradition - thanks to Paul VAHLE GmbH & Co KG, which has breathed new life into the landmark. For commuters and tourists who had to take long detours during the shutdown, the transporter bridge is now back on a direct route across the canal after almost six years of downtime.

Flying high with VAHLE technology

The transporter bridge transports pedestrians, cyclists and motorists across the Kiel Canal. Even though it is a marvel of technology, the ferry does not float, of course. Instead, it hangs on twelve steel cables under the bridge girder. VAHLE installed 135-metre-long, 5-pole U35 busbars with a conductor cross-section of 200 square millimetres on both sides of the bridge, which supply four 30-kilowatt electric motors with power.

"The installation was extremely challenging, as we had to work at night under a full track closure," says Achim Dries, Managing Director at Paul Vahle GmbH & Co. The material, which weighed several tons, was distributed on the bridge using a track excavator and installed using mobile scaffolding - at a height of 50 metres. "That was no easy task for our fitters. Anyone with a fear of heights was out of place here," laughs Dries. VAHLE equipped the conductor rails with additional heating conductors so that the ferry can also "float" in winter without disruption.

Video surveillance and predictive maintenance for smooth ferry operation

To prevent serious accidents like the one in 2016, the ferry offers greater safety for staff and passengers. To this end, VAHLE has installed the SMGX data communication system, which ensures continuous video monitoring. "The more complex the mobile transportation application, the higher the data rate. Our system has been specially developed for fail-safe data transmission and is compatible with our proven conductor rail systems such as the U35," explains Dries.

In the event of a power failure, the system is supplied by an emergency power generator. Maintenance of the conveyor system is also easier than before: for example, wear testers indicate in good time when the carbon brushes need to be replaced. This prevents the ferry from coming to an unwanted standstill.

State-of-the-art technology

Up to 100 people and four cars can be taken on each trip. The suspended ferry travels at around 5 kilometers per hour and takes 1.5 minutes to cover the 130-meter route. It shuttles across the canal every 15 minutes, even at low water levels, ice or strong currents, and requires less energy than a ferry. Since March 2022, both of the city's landmarks - the Rendsburg High Bridge and the transporter bridge - have been open again as a single unit for "flowing" traffic in the region. "We are proud to have been involved in the "Suspension Ferry 2.0" project to give the city back a piece of its history - authentic like the original, but with the technical equipment that is needed for the traffic of today and tomorrow," summarizes Dries. Meanwhile, the municipality is planning to open the next chapter of the "new" landmark: it is to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.