The company reports that drones are currently deployed at several key locations in Lithuania, including freight stations in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, and Radviliškis, as well as at the Radviliškis wagon depot.
The drones—manufactured in the United States—are primarily intended for checking the interior cleanliness of open wagons used for transporting weather-resistant bulk materials such as crushed stone. The company points out that residues from previous shipments can affect the usability of materials like crushed stone, which are frequently used in roadworks and similar construction projects.
The introduction of drone inspections is connected to LTG Cargo’s acquisition of 200 gondola wagons built for this cargo type. According to the company, the full fleet could support the transport of up to 700,000 tonnes of construction materials annually, which may be directed toward various infrastructure projects, including the Rail Baltica line.
Inspection personnel have undergone qualification training to operate the drones. Around 30 employees are currently certified, and the devices are also reported to detect some technical faults in addition to assessing cleanliness.