ORLEN Kolej, one of Poland’s biggest rail freight operators, is acquiring 40 new locomotives. They boast last mile diesel modules and should reduce energy use for 30% per tonne of freight transported.
The 40 locomotives fall into two categories: twenty 304E Gama locomotives from Polish manufacturer PESA and twenty E6ACTadnb Dragon 2 locomotives from Newag, also a Polish manufacturer.
The former type has a power output of 5.6 MW, whereas the latter reaches 5 MW. Both locomotive types bring 30% energy savings and feature last mile modules to bridge the non-electrified segments of the rail network. The new locomotives will be able to transport 7.2 million tonnes of products a year, covering 5.5 million kilometres, says ORLEN Kolej.
A purely Polish project
“We are proud that in a procurement process open to all manufacturers and suppliers – not only those from Poland – it was Polish companies that submitted the strongest offers, providing modern rolling stock that meets all our expectations and operational needs”, commented Krzysztof Duszczyk, President of the Management Board of ORLEN Kolej.
“The purchase of new electric locomotives with diesel modules will significantly improve the handling of ORLEN Group’s freight operations, reflecting the Group’s dynamic growth. We remain focused on implementing innovative solutions that enhance transport reliability, increase safety and enable us to operate independently. This marks an important step towards creating a strong, modern rail company equipped to successfully compete in the market”, Duszczyk concluded.
Never before seen deal in the market
The contracts for the new rolling stock have a total value of more than 800 million Polish złoty (190 million euros), says ORLEN. The operator explains that the project is financed through an operating lease provided by PKO Leasing.
“This transaction is exceptional on many levels – for PKO Leasing, for the leasing sector and for the Polish economy”, said Tomasz Bogus, President of the Management Board of PKO Leasing. “We are proud of the record value of the financing – a deal of this scale has not been seen on the Polish market before.”
“It is a source of great pride and a strong confirmation of our capabilities. We also value the trust of such a reputable partner as ORLEN Kolej and are pleased to support a project of strategic importance for the national rail sector. A contract exceeding 800 million złoty shows that the leasing industry should be recognised as a key source of financing for large-scale projects.”