EMD hopes to sell $90m in locomotives

Locomotive producer Electromotive Diesel (EMD), based in Illinois (US), estimates it will sell about 30 Diesel electric locomotives in the next two to three years. “Romania has considerably developed this market, currently having about 30 private transport operators. We estimate that we will sell about 30 – 40 ”Class 66” Diesel electric locomotives,” Charles Mann, chief executive of EMD Europe told ZIARUL FINANCIAR. According to him, the price of a ”Class 66” locomotive stands at about 3 million dollars. The Class 66 needs 30% less fuel compared with the already existing locomotives on the market, say EMD representatives. The American locomotive producer says over 400 ”Series 66” locomotives are functioning on the railway market in Great Britain and in Western Europe. State railway transporters CFR Marfa and CFR Calatori are currently modernising their railway vehicle stock so as to comply with European standards. The locomotives will mostly be sold in Romania through operational leasing. “We will most probably resort to well recognised banks in operational leasing, such as the Japanese bank Mitsui or the British bank HSBC”, adds Mann. ZF