A method and apparatus for handling a plurality of cargo spaces

A system which comprises at least cargo spaces (1; 18) and rail bogies (2) or wheel-and-axle sets, for handling a plurality of cargo spaces, which cargo spaces are at least at one stage arranged into a line (4) in alignment with a railway track (3) and are raised by the edges (5a, 5b) of the cargo spaces to a distance above the track. The wheels of the train are transferred as a line (6) of bogies (2) or wheel-and-axle sets along the track (3) to beneath the line (4) of cargo spaces (1), each bogie is positioned in the region of a cargo-space end (7a, 7b) or a cargo space (1), and the cargo spaces are lowered to bear on the bogies in order to form a train (19) ready for travel. The train is disassembled into a line of cargo spaces by removing the bogies (2) or wheel-and-axle sets along the track from beneath the cargo spaces.