Battery-Powered Goods Transport on Serbian Railroads Soon? – Serbia Cargo Planning Loan Worth EUR 7.5 Million for Procurement of Hybrid Locomotives

The company Serbia Cargo has published the tender for the preparation of the feasibility study of the modernization of means of transport.

According to the technical specification, due to the strong competition, the most important transporter of goods on the rail network in Serbia plans to procure new diesel locomotives for trains on non-electrified rails, as part of the modernization of the rolling stock.

The procurement of diesel locomotives with an EU 5 engine, that is, a hybrid engine (diesel engine + batteries), is planned.

Advantage, as said, will be given to hybrid locomotives if they have similar traction properties and meet the requirements regarding the radial bearing load.

The analyses and prognoses of the transport demand need to encompass goods transport on the routes Ruma-Sabac-Brasina, Nis-Zajecar-Prahovo Port, Pozarevac-Majdanpek-Prahovo Port and Pancevo-Vrsac, in the period up to 2035 (the planned transport of goods, the planned revenues and expenditures etc.).

The documentation says that, with the consent of the Government, the plan is to secure EUR 7.5 million for the procurement of diesel or hybrid locomotives from a loan of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and that the application for the funds entails the preparation of the Feasibility Study.

Within the modernization and revitalization of the rolling stock, it is specified that the plan is to procure around 4 diesel locomotives for freight trains, around 7 diesel switchers, around 80 new freight rail cars of the Uagpps-z series and to overhaul and modernize up to 1,400 freight rail cars.

Each procurement procedure requires a feasibility study with an analysis of the current condition, a prognosis of the future scope of the transport and the economic feasibility with an analysis of environmental impact.