SERBIA: Two electric locomotives which the state electricity generator ordered last year have been rolled out at CRRC Zhuzhou’s plant in China. The contract was awarded following an international tender and was the first rolling stock order won by CRRC in Serbia.
The 7 MW locomotives have a maximum speed of 140 km/h, and according the manufacturer meet EU TSI standards.
The state power generator uses a dedicated rail network electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz to transport lignite from the Kolubara open cast mines to the Nikola Tesla power stations. The railway carries around 25 million tonnes/year, a significantly higher tonnage than the total freight traffic carried by the national railway’s Srbiјa Kargo freight business.
The line is currently operated using Končar Class 411 and Škoda Class 443 electric locomotives, as well as several types of diesel locomotive. This is also a 5 km network of 900 mm gauge lines at the mines.
