photo: ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava/ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava Completed the Fleet Renewal by Adding the Seventh Siemens Vectron MS 383 Series Locomotive
The company ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava, from the refining and petrochemical group ORLEN Unipetrol, took over the last, the seventh Siemens Vectron MS locomotive of the 383 series in the colours of ORLEN Unipetrol in Litvínov Chempark. By taking delivery of the new locomotive, ORLEN Unipetrol has completed the planned fleet modernisation, started in 2017, intending to expand the fleet by seven Siemens Vectron MS electric locomotives.
ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava, one of the major rail freight carriers in the Czech Republic, is thus strengthening its transport capacities thanks to the gradual modernisation of its rolling stock, which it uses to provide transport on domestic lines and to neighbouring countries, as well as between ORLEN Group companies. It continues to implement the ORLEN Group's strategy of reducing CO2 emissions. During its operation in the ORLEN Unipetrol Group, Vectron MS locomotives have already covered almost 2.8 million kilometres, the emission equivalent of approximately 28,000 tonnes of CO2 from diesel locomotive operation.
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"ORLEN Group's strategy is to be emission neutral by 2050. Investments in the sustainable development of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group, including the ORLEN Unipetrol Transport fleet modernisation, are integral steps towards its fulfilment. Modern Siemens Vectron MS locomotives help us not only to increase the volume and reliability of transport, to optimise operating costs, but also to reduce CO2 emissions, which fits in with the ORLEN Group's sustainable development strategy," said Tomasz Wiatrak, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ORLEN Unipetrol Group.
With the inclusion of the last seventh Siemens Vectron MS interoperable locomotive from Siemens Mobility, ORLEN Unipetrol Transport is currently completing the expansion of transport and modernisation of its locomotives. The purchase of these modern locomotives is part of the strategic investment development in which ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava has invested hundreds of millions of crowns since 2017 when it started to renew its fleet.
"We are carrying out a continuous planned modernisation of our fleet. The first Siemens Vectron MS locomotive was added to our fleet in October 2017, gradually more were added, and this February the seventh and last one was added. Each locomotive travels nearly 120,000 kilometres per year, replacing 45 trucks and can transport trains weighing around 2,000 tonnes at 100 km/h. They help us not only to increase the volume of transported products but to optimise the overall costs of operation and maintenance of the rolling stock," says Jaroslav Dvořák, Managing Director of ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava. He adds: "Our Vectron locomotives produced 1,471,000 kWh in 2022, i.e. about 10% of the total traction electricity consumed. They are very energy efficient, using only 0.029 kWh of energy to transport one tonne of goods per kilometre."
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In the colours of ORLEN Unipetrol, Vectron locomotives with a power of 6,400 kW and a normal operating speed of 100 km/h transport mainly chemical products. These Vectrons are capable of operating not only in the Czech Republic but also in all neighbouring countries - Poland, Slovakia, Germany and Austria, as well as Hungary. Great emphasis is placed not only on performance but also on safety. In addition to the national train control systems of the respective countries, the locomotives are also equipped with modern ETCS (European Train Control System), GSM-R and remote diagnostics. One of the crucial safety aspects of these locomotives is also passive safety, which provides the driver with survival space in case of an emergency.
"ETCS is a device that increases the rail transport safety and replaces many different, uncooperative and often outdated national train protection systems in each country. Unlike the majority of vehicles on the Czech railway, where the mobile part of the European Train Control System ETCS is implemented after the fact, the mobile part of ETCS is an organic part of the Siemens Vectron MS electric locomotives, none of which were manufactured and delivered without this system." Roman Kokšal, Managing Director of Siemens Mobility Czech Republic, says and adds, "Transporting products by rail compared to transporting them by road brings significant energy savings, reduces carbon dioxide emissions and, in the case of electric transport, which is dominant on the railways, also completely eliminates the emission of harmful substances. Furthermore, and very importantly, it frees up motorways and roads from heavy cars. It has a very positive effect on the flow of traffic and the life of the roads."
ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava is one of the essential railway freight carriers in the Czech Republic and, with its contractual partners, provides transport not only to neighbouring countries but also to the Netherlands and the Balkans. It offers a wide portfolio of services on the railway market. In addition to the transport of chemical products, it also focuses on freight forwarding, railcar rental, repair and cleaning services and consulting. Its customers are not only members of the international ORLEN Group but also independent companies, including major rail shippers, foreign carriers and chemical plants with no connection to the holding.
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A summary of interesting facts about Vectron multisystem locomotives in ORLEN Unipetrol colours:
- One locomotive has an average annual mileage of almost 120,000 km, or about 11,000 km/month and about 370 km/day
- These universal electric locomotives can run on three railway power systems (DC 3 000 V, AC 25 000 V 50 Hz, AC 15 000 V 16.6 Hz)
- One locomotive can replace 45 trucks on the road, or:
- 45 trucks currently on the road that are replaced by a freight train (effect of more goods transported by locomotive versus car),
- 60 lorries currently on the road and lay-bys which are replaced by a freight train (effect of more goods transported and more locomotive passes in relation to the car),
- 180 trucks in production that are replaced by freight trains (effect of more goods transported, effect of higher mileage and effect of longer locomotive life relative to the car)
- Throughout the operation of the entire fleet of Siemens Vectron MS locomotives in the ORLEN Group, the locomotives covered almost 2.8 million km, equivalent to approximately 28,000 tonnes of CO2 from diesel locomotive operation
- The recuperation saves almost 1,500 thousand kWh of electricity annually
- A single locomotive can transport trains weighing around 2,000 t at 100 km/h. (This limitation is due to the design speed of most freight wagons; the locomotive itself can travel at speeds of up to 160 km/h)
- The locomotive is very energy-efficient, using only 0.029 kWh of energy to transport one tonne of goods per kilometre. That's about the same as a kettle heating 0.2 litres of water for a cup of tea
- Like all Vectron locomotives, every ORLEN Unipetrol Vectron locomotive is equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS)
- Vectron locomotives for ORLEN Unipetrol are equipped and fully approved for operation in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Austria and Hungary
- All Vectron locomotives of ORLEN Unipetrol Transport are equipped with an approved electricity meter of the Railway Administration, and it is, therefore, possible to monitor the exact consumption or recovery of traction energy for subsequent invoicing
Source: ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava