In July, 2017, a contract was signed between PKP Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa spółka z o.o. and NEWAG S.A. concerning modernisation of ten diesel ST44 locomotives to 311Da type. According to the original schedule, one loco was to be supplied per month. Bearing in mind increasing transportation needs of PKP LHS, the parties agreed to reduce the period needed for the implementation of the contract.
“We are very glad that the newly-modernised locomotives will be supplied earlier than it was originally planned. It is especially important for us due to the fact that we had a record transport volume in the first quarter of this year,” said Zbigniew Tracichleb, President of the Board of PKP LHS.
The first two modernised locos were already delivered to PKP LHS in April, with the following four locos to be delivered in May. The contract will be executed in full in July 2018, five months before the originally scheduled date.
Before implementing the contract PKP LHS had seventeen 311Da locomotives modernised by NEWAG. These locomotives are designed to pull heavy cargo trains on broad-gauge lines.
NEWAG S.A. has modernised 37 locomotives of this type since 2007. The 311D/311Da diesel cargo locomotive was created as a result of a complete overhaul of the Russian– manufactured M62 locomotive, which is known on the Polish railway market as ST44.
The net value of the contract exceeds PLN 95 million.