{"id":165145,"date":"2025-01-08T19:33:37","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T09:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=58915"},"modified":"2025-01-08T19:33:37","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T09:33:37","slug":"operail-starts-single-driver-operations-on-its-home-made-c-30m-locomotives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=165145","title":{"rendered":"Operail starts single-driver operations on its home-made C-30M locomotives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Estonian rail operator Operail is introducing single-driver operations for its C-30M locomotives. Until recently, this type of locomotive was used only for shunting. Now that it has also been approved for mainline service, Operail is no longer putting two staff members on board the locomotives built at its own Tapa plant.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>\u201cLine operation with two people is a historical relic that once ensured safety if something happened to one of the drivers. Today, it is possible to ensure an excellent level of safety with technical aids that detect deviations in the driver\u2019s work and stop the train if necessary. Two-person operation is only reasonable for shunting work,\u201d explains Merle Kurvits, the CEO of Operail. Only having one driver on board is supposed to make operations more efficient.<\/p>\n

It is not the first time that Operail is introducing single-driver operations. In 2019, the C36-7i locomotive was the first one to only have one driver on board at Operail. With its new task as a mainline service locomotive, the C30-M is the next in line. \u201cAs soon as the locomotive was certified for line services, we began preparations to provide our customers with an even more efficient, one-person operated service,\u201d said Merle Kurvits.<\/p>\n

Safety requirements<\/h2>\n

\u201cTo meet the requirements for single-person operation, the locomotive had to be equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system \u2013 if the sensor detects a temperature higher than the limit, automatic extinguishing with carbon dioxide takes place\u201d, Operail explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition, the commission checked whether the locomotive\u2019s equipment meets the safety requirements: chocks, radio communication equipment, fire extinguishers, a Metrotec monitoring system, a first aid kit, and a laser thermometer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now that the first C30-M locomotive has been certified for single-driver operations, Operail is planning to certify another four or five in quick succession, at least by the end of the first quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n