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The Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI) and National Research Council of Canada's Centre for Surface Transportation Technology recently obtained a contract to help Brazilian mining firm Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (VALE) increase heavy-haul axle loads.

TTCI and the center will serve as prime contractors, providing economic and engineering analyses of rolling stock and operations. During the next four years, the parties will study VALE's railway system, including a mine, port and VALE railroads Estrada de Ferro Carajás (EFC) and Estrada de Ferro Vitória Minas (EFVM).

For EFC, TTCI and the center plan to increase axle loads from 31 tons to 37 tons, with incremental steps at 32 and 34.5 tons. For EFVM, they expect to increase axle loads from 24.5 tons to 34.5 tons, with steps at 27, 29.5 and 32 tons.

Higher axle loads will help boost capacity, extend asset life and increase productivity, said TTCI Marketing Director Britto Rajkumar in a prepared statement.