Transporting dangerous goods is always a challenge. When it involves a multimodal route and a change of path, the task turns into a real logistical test. At the end of 2025, AsstrA successfully completed the transportation of more than 2600 tons of ammonium nitrate from Bulgaria to Ukraine.
The delivery of the cargo took place in two stages: the first batch exceeded 1250 tons, while the second batch amounted to 1350 tons.
According to ADR standards, ammonium nitrate is classified as a hazardous substance of class 5, as it is a strong oxidizer. At high temperatures, it can ignite, explode and detonate, releasing large amounts of gas. Therefore, when organizing such shipments, it is crucial to account for the cargo's hazard classification and strictly follow packaging and transportation requirements.
Due to the difference in the width of railway tracks, it was necessary to reload the nitrate from European wagons to Ukrainian ones.
- The first batch of ammonium nitrate, consisting of 13 and 12 European wagons, was reloaded into 11 and 10 Ukrainian wagons, respectively.
- The second batch, consisting of 13 and 12 European wagons, was reloaded into 12 and 10 Ukrainian wagons, respectively.
In compliance with safety regulations, ammonium nitrate was reloaded into soft big bags (flexible intermediate bulk containers) of 1 ton each, without intermediate storage in a warehouse. In total, over 2600 of these big bags were transloaded at the Vadul-Siret station in Ukraine. The transloading process for each batch of wagons took between 3 to 7 days.
Since the transportation across Ukraine was carried out in open wagons, AsstrA experts took extra precautions by purchasing and installing liner bags — special polymer inserts designed for the transport of bulk cargo. These inserts ensure complete isolation of the cargo from the container walls and protect it from moisture, dust and other external factors. The wagons were also marked with special hazardous cargo signs.
"Due to the structural features of European wagons (the presence of tarps) and customs restrictions, we quickly changed the transloading location to the terminal of PJSC ‘Ukrzaliznytsia’, located directly in the customs zone. AsstrA experts are always flexible and ready to make quick decisions, offering our clients the fastest and most efficient alternative," says Natalia Demchenko, Country General Manager at AsstrA.
The cargo delivery was completed within the established deadlines despite a shortage of locomotive power and electricity interruptions on one of the railway sections. The shipment from Povelyanovo (Bulgaria) to Cherkasy (Ukraine) covered approximately 2000 km.
The transport and logistics company AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG has extensive expertise in the transportation of hazardous cargo. With 30 years of experience in logistics, the company provides high-quality services, minimizing risks and ensuring uninterrupted deliveries.
