A simple analysis of the market for rail passenger transport vehicles shows that, in Western Europe, most of the orders placed with railway manufacturers are made for new locomotives, while in South and South-Eastern Europe the orders concern the refurbishment of older locomotives. While planning the refurbishment of their rolling stock fleet, rail transport operators think first of all about the cost. This applies also for the acquisition of locomotives, the main criterion being the lowest price offered.
In Western Europe, most operators prefer new vehicles instead of refurbished vehicles. This is the conclusion reached after taking an overall look at the evolution of the market in the last 10-15 years. Private railway operators began their activity 15 years ago, using old refurbished vehicles. However, almost all large operators in Western Europe currently use new vehicles, because otherwise they wouldn’t be able to face the competition of state-owned operators. Most state-owned railway companies in Western Europe have modernised their vehicle fleet in the last 20 years.
Experts in the field believe that the decision of choosing between the refurbishment of old vehicles and the acquisition of new ones should be first of all based on the identification of future objectives, such as reducing operating and maintenance costs, increasing capacity and performance, improving reliability and availability, as well as on criteria related to aesthetics, environmental protection and safety. Certain solutions related to rolling stock performance and cost reduction can be obtained by acquiring new equipment (reduced energy costs, longer maintenance period and safety). However, if operators don’t have the necessary capital to acquire new locomotives, the best solution would be to refurbish older vehicles, thereby installing a new engine and eliminating older composite materials which generate polluting emissions. The advantage in this case is that operators can have a ‘new’ product at low costs.
Refurbished and competitive
In Eastern Europe, the market is still dominated by the refurbishment of old vehicles or the acquisition of second-hand vehicles at low costs, but which affect the investment budget in time because of the maintenance costs (which are 60% higher), spare parts or high energy consumption. The general trend should be more towards the acquisition of new vehicles, and not their refurbishment. Although the price paid for refurbishment is much lower than the price paid for the acquisition of new vehicles, the expenses made in time will most likely be higher compared to an initial investment in new rolling stock. The maintenance costs for refurbished or second-hand vehicles are very high and they only affect the operator’s financial status. In general, the life expectancy for locomotives is approximately 20 years, depending on service and maintenance schedules.
Nowadays a number of electric locomotives do not meet modern requirements for new generation technology both in profitability and reliability, and in locomotive crew operating conditions.
However, even having an opportunity to get new electric locomotives – there is no need to reject the old ones: major overhaul and modernisation is a worthy way of rolling stock updating. The significant part of units and devices of the locomotive become physically and morally outdated more quickly, than the machine as a whole. Investments into major overhaul and modernisation provide the increase of locomotive operation terms by 15-17 years.
The refurbishment of the diesel-electric locomotive through remotorization and electric AC transmission helps reduce fuel consumption, simplifies the maintenance activity and increases the engine’s efficiency and reliability.
by Elena Ilie
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