Approximately PLN 75 million –this will be the cost of five electric locomotives ordered by the dynamically developing rail logistics company to service its increasing freight volumes.
“This transaction proves that Freightliner Group sees a high growth potential in the railway market in Poland. This is yet another multi-million investment matching our motto ‘Reliability as standard’ – which means supplying our customers with effective logistic solutions while maintaining the highest focus on quality and safety. We are fully convinced it is the right choice to invest in the rolling stock manufactured by the Polish producer with long traditions which is able to deliver world-class products. We believe that the process of increasing modernisation of the Polish railway network will be coupled with an increasing role of modern and innovative rolling stock,” stated Konstantin Skorik, President of the Board of Freightliner PL.
The Dragon locomotives ordered by Freightliner PL are six-axle locomotives of 5MW power, adapted to pulling heavy freight trains exceeding 4 thousand tonnes. They will be equipped with the Dual Power module — an additional diesel engine of 520kW in power enabling to service customers also on non-electrified end lines, and at sidings without a need for shunting locomotives (the so-called ‘last mile’).
“Dragons are powerful, safe, attractively-priced locomotives, economical in operation, generously equipped and, most of all, highly reliable. Therefore, they will perfectly complement our existing rolling stock,” said Wojciech Jurkiewicz, Managing Director of Freightliner PL.
The rail freight operator will receive the first three locomotives in May 2016 and the remaining two by the end of July 2016.
Bartosz Krzemiński, President of the Board of NEWAG Gliwice S.A emphasised that the signed contract constituted another step in launching NEWAG’s locomotives in Western markets. “The fact that Freightliner Group, a leading independent European rail operator have come to rely on our product proves that our development strategy has been right,” he added.
The net contract value is EUR 17.5 million. The transaction will be financed by ING Lease (Poland).