RCG is leasing 500 Eanos-y wagons from MFD Rail, offering greater loading volume and robust design to support Europe’s steel and recycling industries.
ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is expanding and modernising its fleet of wagons used for transporting light metal scrap and sheared scrap, leasing 500 new Eanos-y freight wagons from MFD Rail. Deliveries began at the start of 2026, with the full fleet expected to be operational by mid-2027. By the end of July 2026, 110 of the new wagons were already in service.
The wagons were developed jointly by RCG and MFD Rail to meet the specific demands of scrap metal transport, combining a larger loading volume with a more robust design intended to reduce damage during operation.
Greater capacity, smarter monitoring
Numerous optimisations have been made to the wagon body, doors and fittings, with high-strength steel used extensively throughout. The result is a loading volume of around 95 m³, roughly 15% higher than standard models on the market. This allows the wagons’ permissible payload of around 65 tonnes to be used more effectively, particularly when transporting light, loose scrap, giving RCG customers better use of their loading capacity and improved wagon availability.
All wagons are fitted with telematics, including GPS, allowing precise location tracking that supports both dispatching and proactive mobile maintenance. Wolfram Bahle, CSO of MFD Rail, said: “The Eanos-y clearly demonstrates what is possible when we work closely with our customers: Together with the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group, we have developed a wagon that is optimally tailored to the transport requirements of light metal scrap. We are delighted to be making an important contribution to the modernisation of the ÖBB freight wagon fleet.”
The leasing agreement forms part of RCG’s long-term fleet and portfolio strategy, under which older, more maintenance-intensive rolling stock is being gradually replaced or supplemented by the new wagons. Bettina Castillo, Member of the Executive Board at RCG, said the increased loading volume and more robust construction enhance transport efficiency, adding:
“This is a key component of our long-term fleet strategy, through which we are further developing the availability, cost-effectiveness and performance of our fleet to meet future market requirements.”
Customers in the steel and recycling sectors, including scrap processors and circular economy businesses, stand to benefit most, driven by the shift towards low-carbon “Green Steel” production and tightening circular economy regulation. With a G1 loading gauge and unrestricted shunting capability, the wagons can operate across Europe’s standard-gauge network.
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