CZ LOKO wins tender to modernize class 742 locomotives
The delivery is to be completed by 2024.
CZ LOKO won yet another large contract for complete modernization of the class 742 locomotives for Czech Railways (Ceske drahy). It will convert a total of fourteen class 742 locomotives to EffiShunter 1000M. These will be equipped with ETCS.
CZ LOKO announced its victory in the tender invited in July 2021. The value of the contract is CZK 684 million (30 million EUR). The carrier will take delivery of the first vehicle by the end of February 2023 and the last one by the end of 2024.
“The comprehensive upgrade of the class 742 locomotives to EffiShunter 1000M fits into our 2030 strategy, during which we want to renew a significant part of our fleet. Together with class 750.7, the vehicles will be designated for independent traction operation on ETCS-equipped corridors,” said Michal Kraus, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Deputy CEO of Czech Railways (Ceske drahy).
This is not an unfamiliar project for CZ LOKO; the company has already carried out a similar transformation of class 742 locomotives for CD Cargo and other carriers. After modernization, the locomotive is reclassified as 742.71X. CD Cargo has invited a tender to supply another thirty locomotives after having fifty vehicles refurbished.
Essentially a new vehicle
The class 742 locomotive was produced at CKD between 1977 and 1986. “The comprehensive modernisation is based on the EffiShunter series, and with regard to development costs and component lead times, this type is highly unified, although there will be many other changes to the vehicle due to its use in passenger transport. We offer a reasonable price/performance ratio in the current extreme increase in component prices, but also meet the demanding delivery deadlines and expected quality levels,” says Josef Gulyás, Vice Chairman and CEO of CZ LOKO.
The modernisation will create a virtually new vehicle. Beyond the standard components and equipment, it is equipped with the ETCS signaling system, online monitoring and diagnostics and a new generation of traction and auxiliary equipment. Only the chassis and main frame remain from the original vehicle. Yet even these parts undergo a major overhaul and many modifications. The 1000 kW internal combustion engine allows a maximum speed of 100 km/h.
Czech Railways will use the EffiShunters 1000M to provide rolling stock during voltage closures, for technological and operational runs on ETCS-equipped lines. They are also to be used at the head of accident trains and for other service needs.
CZ LOKO has already succeeded with the same project in a 2018 CD Cargo tender, resulting in a contract for the modernisation of 50 class 742 locomotives. Other vehicles are owned by the carriers CER and Rail Cargo Carrier, a contract was also signed by ODOS from Ostrava.
“Complex modernisation and production of new universal independent traction vehicles is our main production programme with our own know-how. We are now expanding it to include hybrid and dual-fuel vehicles with the aim of operating as efficiently and environmentally friendly as possible. Even the EffiShunter 1000M, after modernisation, has significantly lower emissions than the original class 742 that has been running on Czech rails for over 40 years,” remarked Josef Gulyas.