On September 30, 2010, the Centre for Qualification and Training on Rail (CENAFER) hosted the symposium entitled “060 EA electric locomotive” to mark the celebration of 40 years since the first electric locomotive has been manufactured in Romania under license from ASEA-Sweden.
The event held in collaboration with the Romanian Railway Authority (AFER) was the background of an interesting discussion about the past and future of the Romanian electric locomotive, but also the perfect time to call on the authorities to resume the railway electrification process in Romania. CENAFER’s General Manager Dionisie Ardelean has evoked the integrity of CFR’s technical commission in charge with selecting, back in the 60s, the electric locomotive model to equip the railways, stressing the fact that after the competition held on Braşov-Predeal in 1963, the team decided on the most performing product at that time. This is an attitude that should have prevailed to this day in case of acquisitions or tenders for procuring rolling stock for the Romanian railways.
Ştefan Roşeanu, Secretary General of the Romanian Railway Industry Association (AIF) underlined the fact that the Romanian electric locomotive has a future as bright as its past and has praised the flexibility of the platform. The various modernisation schemes applied to the 060 EA – ASEA concept stand proof. The AIF Secretary General has also praised the Phoenix locomotive manufactured by Softronic Craiova. Phoenix is manufactured after the ASEA model, but it is very close of the targets set by current European locomotives. Octavian Udrişte, Club Feroviar consultant, has participated in the technical commission dealing with the offer assessment for selecting the locomotive. He stressed once again the superiority of electric haulage and the necessity to carry on the electrification of the Romanian network. He gave the example of the difficult progress of Barboşi-Galaţi electrification project, started in 1989, and accentuated the necessity of electrification works on sections such as Oradea-Cluj, Bucharest-Giurgiu, Constanţa-Mangalia etc. Electric haulage helps saving costs through energy efficiency and low pollution level, declared Octavian Udrişte.
He also said that the Romanian railway system needs rolling stock renewal, especially in passenger traffic, just like in the 60s when the electric and diesel locomotives replaced steam locomotives. Today, change should come from electric, low axle load locomotives that need to replace the classic heavy 6-axle locomotives, with 14-15 tonne coaches. Lighter multiple-units also spare railway infrastructure.
The event also marked another railway premiere in Romania. The Italian railway model company ACME has launched a model of the 060 EA locomotive in the colours of the national operator, CFR Călători.
by Alin Lupulescu
Share on:
