CZ LOKO is becoming increasingly active in international markets, with its vehicles now operating in twenty countries worldwide. Outside of the Czech Republic, the largest fleets are found in Italy and the Baltic states, while numbers are also steadily rising in Scandinavia. Paradoxically, neighboring Slovakia had remained somewhat on the sidelines until recently.
This changed with a contract for ZSSK CARGO, which commissioned the modernization of 30 original Class 742 locomotives into the EffiShunter 1000M type. The final unit of this order was delivered in May of this year.
The primary benefits of these modernizations include lower operating and maintenance costs, alongside significantly improved safety and comfort for the crew. Furthermore, 14 of these locomotives are equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS), further enhancing operational safety on main lines.
A notable aspect of the contract was the cooperation with the Croatian company TŽV Gredelj. While CZ LOKO provided the technical documentation and manufactured new structural components in the form of exchangeable sub-assembly packages, the Croatian partner handled the modification of the main frames, the final assembly of the vehicles, and the commissioning process.
