ZAGREB, June 19 (Hina) - Croatian Railways (HZ) on Wednesday took over the first of 20 new diesel-electric locomotives being refurbished by the Gredelj locomotives factory, within the project on HZ's modernisation.
ZAGREB, June 19 (Hina) - Croatian Railways (HZ) on Wednesday took
over the first of 20 new diesel-electric locomotives being
refurbished by the Gredelj locomotives factory, within the project
on HZ's modernisation. #L#
Emphasising the significance of the project for Gredelj, Director
Damir Stefan reminded that the project to upgrade 20 locomotives is
valued at US$17.5 million and commenced three years ago.
Within the project, HZ will have locomotives that will be safe in
traffic for the next 20 years and a great deal more economical,
Stefan said.
Two locomotives are almost ready and are waiting testing while a
another six are being worked on, he said, and added that the entire
project should be completed by June next year.
A representative of the Scottish Turner Rail Service who was
entrusted with the refurbishment job through international tenders
said that he was satisfied with the way the job had been done.
A member of HZ's board, Damir Tot, said that the railways were
gaining locomotives that will far surpass the existing ones and
increase HZ's efficiency under far less costs. The price of
refurbishing the locomotives is 52 percent of the price of
purchasing new locomotives.
HZ obtained a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development in 2000 to finance the upgrading of its locomotives.
(hina) sb