- Five of the seven locomotives that will transport UPM’s cellulose from its Paso de los Toros plant to the port of Montevideo are now in Uruguay. These trains will be operated by the DBCC Transport consortium, composed of Grupo Azvi’s concession company Cointer (Spain) and Christophersen (CHR Group), together with Deutsche Bahn International Operation (Germany).
These are the most modern locomotives in Latin America, designed to meet the highest environmental standards. Along with 140 specially designed freight wagons, they complete the rolling stock provided by the PorTren consortium for the Central Railway. In their first year of operation, each locomotive will cover almost 120,000 km.
The Stadler EURO4001 locomotives are six-axle diesel units with state-of-the-art engines, primarily used for freight transport, offering significant economic and environmental benefits to the operator.
Powerful, reliable, and cleaner, they comply with the latest European emission standards (EU Stage V), significantly reducing greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. They are highly fuel- and energy-efficient and include a regenerative braking system that recycles energy for auxiliaries such as air conditioning and lighting.
These high-performance locomotives provide great power and traction capacity, allowing more cargo to be moved per trip, increasing productivity. They also offer high reliability and lower operating and maintenance costs.
Operator comfort and safety were key design considerations. The locomotives feature a hygienic cabin, dual driving cabs with centrally located ergonomic control panels, and advanced driver assistance systems.
These first five locomotives of a total of seven were manufactured in Valencia and arrived in Uruguay on June 2.
PorTren, formed by Christophersen (CHR Group) and Cointer, is responsible for supplying all the rolling stock as well as building the railway Operations and Maintenance Center, which will include a fully equipped 3,000 m² workshop and a 1,000 m² administrative area.
DBCC Transport will operate from this center, employing over 60 trained staff to ensure efficient and safe railway operations.
Photos: DBCC.
