Unclear future of class 380 locomotives. CD cancels ETCS tender
No final decision has yet been made on the next course of action with locomotives.
Ceske drahy (CD, Czech Railways) canceled its third attempt to select a supplier for the mobile part of the ETCS signaling system for twenty class 380 locomotives from Skoda Transportation. The future of the most expensive locomotives in the history of Czech Railways remains unclear.
CEETransport.com has information that the only bid was submitted by CD-Telematika; it was assessed as uneconomical. Czech Railways management is thus facing a difficult decision on how to proceed. Without ETCS, the possibility of using the locomotives in the future will be significantly reduced, and with the installation of ETCS, the total price of the locomotives will increase disproportionately. Divestment would result in a large accounting loss.
Czech Railways has worked out possible options for further action. Either they will operate the locomotives where ETCS supervision is not required, or sell them to potential buyers from countries where there is no ETCS requirement. No final decision has yet been made on the next course of action. Czech Railways started offering the locomotives for sale in 2020.
PHOTO: Czech Railways class 380 locomotives in the depot. Credit: Czech Railways
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