Mammoet Moves 750 Tonne Leipzig Rail Bridge on Cometto SPMTs
- Meagan Wood
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
30 Second Takeaway
Mammoet has used four 10 axle Cometto SPMT combinations to transport a fully assembled 750 tonne railway bridge approximately 400 metres through Leipzig Sellerhausen, Germany. The transporters were coupled side by side and fitted with lifting systems to support the bridge. Electronic steering provided precise control of each axle, while 700 millimetres of hydraulic suspension stroke assisted with lifting and lowering the structure. The operation was completed for Deutsche Bahn and contractor Hentschke Bau during a scheduled railway closure affecting services towards Dresden and Chemnitz.
Four SPMT Combinations Move Fully Assembled Bridge
Heavy transport specialist Mammoet has completed the transport and installation of a 750 tonne railway bridge in Leipzig Sellerhausen using a coordinated arrangement of Cometto self propelled modular transporters. The bridge was constructed and assembled at a designated work area approximately 400 metres from its final position.
Mammoet coupled four 10 axle Cometto SPMT combinations side by side, creating a broad transport platform with a total of 40 axle lines beneath the bridge and its supporting equipment.
The completed structure was then transported as a single unit from the assembly area to the railway crossing. Moving the bridge fully assembled reduced the amount of construction work required directly above the operational railway corridor and concentrated the installation within a planned closure period.
Two Hour Journey to the Installation Point
The loaded SPMT convoy travelled slowly across a route prepared with steel plates, which provided a consistent running surface and helped distribute the forces generated by the transport system.
It took approximately two hours for the bridge to cover the 400 metre route and reach its installation position. The relatively short distance does not reflect the complexity of the move. A structure weighing 750 tonnes must remain stable and correctly supported as the convoy accelerates, turns, crosses changes in ground level and approaches its final alignment.
Movement speed had to remain closely controlled throughout the operation. Continuous monitoring allowed the transport team to identify and correct changes in alignment, suspension height and load distribution before they could affect the bridge or transport equipment.
Electronic Steering Provides Precise Control
Cometto’s electronic steering system allowed the Mammoet team to control the direction of the individual axle lines throughout the move.
Steffen Petzold of Cometto Product Management said:
“The electronic steering system provides millimetre precise control during handling. Each axle can be steered individually.”
Independent steering is particularly valuable when transporting long and wide structures through restricted construction areas. Instead of following the turning path of a conventional trailer, the SPMT arrangement can be directed through coordinated steering programmes.
Depending on the selected configuration, SPMTs can perform conventional turns, diagonal movements, lateral movements and rotation around a defined point. For the Leipzig bridge installation, this steering capability allowed the transport team to maintain the structure’s alignment while approaching the railway crossing and final support position.
Hydraulic Suspension Supports Lifting and Levelling
The Cometto SPMTs used for the operation provide 700 millimetres of hydraulic suspension stroke. Hydraulic suspension allows the height of individual axle groups to be adjusted while helping distribute the load across the transporter arrangement. This is essential when moving heavy structures over surfaces that are not completely level.
Additional lifting systems were installed above the SPMTs to support the bridge during transport. Working with the jack up arrangement, the hydraulic suspension allowed the structure to be raised, carried and lowered in a controlled sequence.
The system also helped maintain the bridge at the required elevation as the convoy crossed the prepared route. At the installation point, the transport and lifting systems were used together to position the bridge above its permanent supports before the load was transferred from the SPMTs.
Side by Side Configuration Distributes the Load
Connecting four transporter combinations side by side created a wide support arrangement beneath the bridge. This configuration increased stability and distributed the combined weight of the bridge, lifting systems and transport equipment across a larger ground area.
The transport design needed to account for:
The 750 tonne bridge weight
The weight of the lifting and support systems
The transporter tare weight
The bridge’s centre of gravity
Load distribution across the axle lines
Ground bearing pressure
Route width and turning requirements
Changes in elevation along the route
Final positioning tolerances
Before transport began, engineers would have established the permissible loads for each hydraulic suspension group and confirmed that the prepared route could support the complete moving arrangement. Steel plates were positioned along the route to create a suitable transport surface and distribute wheel loads where required.
Railway Closure Creates a Fixed Installation Window
The bridge move was carried out during a scheduled closure of the railway routes towards Dresden and Chemnitz. Train services were suspended for approximately two weeks, creating a fixed period in which the bridge had to be transported, installed and prepared for the next stages of railway construction.
Closures of this type require extensive coordination because rail services cannot resume until the infrastructure has been inspected and confirmed ready for operation.
Equipment reliability and accurate scheduling were therefore central to the transport plan.
Michel Bex, SPMT supervisor and technical expert at Mammoet, said:
“On a project like this, every step has to be right.”
The SPMT move represented one critical stage within a broader programme that also includes track construction, overhead line installation and signalling work.
New Bridge Restores Two Railway Tracks
The project involves the replacement of an existing railway crossing structure in Leipzig Sellerhausen Stünz. The former bridge carried the Leipzig Anger Crottendorf to Leipzig Heiterblick route across the railway lines connecting Leipzig with Dresden and Geithain.
Deutsche Bahn removed the previous structure and commissioned a replacement designed to carry two railway tracks, primarily used for freight traffic.
The new structure is a truss bridge with a steel composite deck. Unlike the previous crossing, the replacement has been designed without intermediate supports beneath the span.
Construction preparation began in autumn 2025, followed by the start of the principal works in January 2026. The programme included demolition of the former bridge, foundation construction, excavation support, assembly of temporary structures and fabrication of the replacement bridge. Building the new span beside the railway allowed much of the work to proceed while limiting disruption to the operating rail network.
Offsite Assembly Reduces Work Over the Railway
Transporting a completed bridge into position allows contractors to undertake much of the fabrication and assembly work away from the operational railway.
This approach can offer several project advantages:
Less construction activity directly above live tracks
A shorter installation period
Improved access for fabrication and inspection
Reduced dependence on extended railway closures
Fewer lifting operations over the rail corridor
Greater control over construction sequencing
The completed bridge still requires a carefully engineered transport and installation system. The structure must be supported at approved points so that temporary loading during the move does not damage the bridge. The transport arrangement must also place the bridge close enough to its final position for the load to be transferred accurately onto the permanent supports.
Final Rail Systems Follow the Bridge Installation
Following installation of the bridge, Deutsche Bahn and its contractors will complete the railway tracks, overhead line equipment and signalling systems.
Cometto has reported that the bridge’s official inauguration is scheduled for 3 October, which is German Unity Day.
Deutsche Bahn’s published project schedule lists the commissioning of the completed crossing for the end of 2026, with remaining work around the construction area continuing into early 2027. The difference reflects the distinction between placing or inaugurating the bridge structure and completing all railway infrastructure required for full operational commissioning.
Growing Use of SPMTs for Bridge Installation
The Leipzig project adds to a growing number of bridge replacement programmes using SPMT technology. Many bridges can be assembled close to their final position and transported during a carefully planned road or railway closure. This can significantly reduce the time that the existing transport corridor must remain unavailable.
The modular construction of SPMTs allows operators to combine the number of axle lines required for a particular load. Multiple modules can be coupled lengthwise or side by side to create a transport system suited to the weight, dimensions and centre of gravity of the structure.
Electronic steering, hydraulic suspension and coordinated power units give SPMTs the manoeuvrability required to move large bridge sections through restricted construction sites.
The equipment does not eliminate the need for extensive engineering. Ground preparation, temporary supports, structural analysis, route design, hydraulic grouping and contingency planning remain essential to a successful bridge move.
About Cometto
Cometto is an Italian manufacturer of self propelled modular transporters, heavy load transport systems and specialised industrial vehicles. The company’s origins date to 1954, when Officine Cometto opened a workshop in Cuneo, Italy, producing vehicles, overhead cranes and industrial systems.
Cometto introduced electronically steered self propelled modules to its product range in 1976 and has since supplied transport systems for shipyards, steelworks, energy projects, industrial facilities and aerospace programmes.Its equipment range includes SPMTs, power pack units, shipyard transporters, heavy industrial transporters and specialised systems for moving wind turbine components.
Since 2017, Cometto has served as the centre of expertise for self propelled vehicles within the Faymonville Group.
Company website: www.cometto.com
About Mammoet
Mammoet is a global engineered heavy lifting and transport specialist headquartered in the Netherlands. Its history dates to 1807, when Dutch entrepreneur Jan Goedkoop established a maritime transport company. The Mammoet name was adopted following a series of mergers and acquisitions during the twentieth century.
The company provides heavy lifting, specialised transport, crane rental and engineering services for civil infrastructure, energy, petrochemical, nuclear, mining, offshore and industrial projects.
Mammoet’s equipment fleet includes crawler and mobile cranes, SPMTs, strand jacks, gantries, skidding systems, jacking equipment and specialised transport systems.
In 1983, Mammoet developed a container sized SPMT design that helped establish the modular transporter format now widely used throughout the heavy transport industry.
Mammoet merged with engineered lifting company ALE in 2020 and operates as part of privately owned Dutch group SHV.
Company website: www.mammoet.com
About Hentschke Bau
Hentschke Bau is a German construction company headquartered in Bautzen, Saxony.
Its history dates to 1857, and the company employs approximately 700 people across its construction and manufacturing operations.
Hentschke Bau specialises in civil engineering, reinforced concrete construction, transport infrastructure, bridge construction, structural steelwork, prefabricated concrete and turnkey building projects.
The company is serving as the principal contractor for the Leipzig Sellerhausen bridge replacement, with Mammoet responsible for the heavy transport and positioning operation.
Company website: www.hentschke-bau.de
About Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn is Germany’s national railway group, providing passenger and freight services while managing a substantial portion of the country’s railway infrastructure.
The Leipzig Sellerhausen Stünz crossing project is being delivered through DB InfraGO, Deutsche Bahn’s infrastructure subsidiary responsible for Germany’s rail network and passenger stations.
The replacement forms part of continuing investment to maintain safe and capable railway infrastructure in Saxony.
Project website: Leipzig Sellerhausen Stünz Bridge Project
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Leipzig bridge weigh?
The fully assembled railway bridge weighed approximately 750 tonnes.
Which company transported the bridge?
The transport and positioning operation was completed by Mammoet.
What transport equipment was used?
Mammoet used four 10 axle Cometto SPMT combinations coupled side by side.
How many axle lines were used?
The complete arrangement contained 40 axle lines, configured as four 10 axle combinations.
How far was the bridge transported?
The bridge was moved approximately 400 metres from its construction area to its final position.
How long did the transport take?
The SPMT convoy reached the installation area after approximately two hours.
Why were steel plates placed along the route?
The steel plates created a prepared running surface and helped distribute loads generated by the transport system.
How was the bridge raised and lowered?
Lifting systems were installed above the SPMTs. These worked with the transporters’ 700 millimetres of hydraulic suspension stroke to raise, level and lower the bridge.
Who commissioned the bridge replacement project?
The operation was carried out for Deutsche Bahn and principal contractor Hentschke Bau.
When will the bridge enter service?
Cometto reports an official inauguration scheduled for 3 October. Deutsche Bahn’s current project schedule lists full commissioning of the railway crossing by the end of 2026.
