Operail´s C30-M is now a certified line service locomotive
The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (CPTRA) has just permitted Operail to officially register the C30-M locomotive model as a mainline freight locomotive, also known as a line service locomotive. This means that from now on, C30-M locomotives built in Tapa will be ready to independently handle the total freight transport process, including shunting and line service.
“This is a significant milestone for Operail, as the introduction of C30-M locomotives as line service locomotives simplifies our operations and allows us to offer our customers a more flexible, efficient, and likely more cost-effective service in the future,” confirmed Merle Kurvits, a member of Operail’s board.
The C30-M is built as a universal locomotive. Due to its optimal size and bidirectional control, it is well-suited for shunting operations (assembling trains, attaching and detaching wagons, and repositioning them in the yard), tasks that a larger line service locomotive cannot perform. At the same time, the C30-M is built powerful enough to handle mainline operations—transporting freight trains from station to station, from origin to destination.
Until now, the C30-M has been officially registered as a shunter (locomotive used for shunting). Over the years, some line trips have been made with the locomotive because, according to the regulations in force until this spring, short outbound trips with a shunter were allowed in Estonia. These included shorter trips, for example, from a customer’s location to the main starting station of the mainline route. However, the bulk of the mainline work on Estonian railways up to today has been done by the older C36-7i locomotives, also known as the “Americans.”
“The C30-M is a newer, more fuel-efficient, and environmentally friendly locomotive. However, it is significantly less powerful than the large C36 and therefore, for very heavy trains two C30-M locomotives must be used simultaneously for mainline work. Regardless, we expect this change to increase efficiency. The locomotive driver can switch the auxiliary locomotive to idle, using it for extra power only when necessary— this allows for a more flexible solution,” explained Kurvits.
The process of applying for a line service permit for the C30-M locomotive began at the end of last year with technical consultations with the CPTRA and the conformity assessor. Over six months, numerous test runs were conducted, during which the C30-M was tested on line service with trains of varying lengths and weights across multiple railway sections and in all kinds of weather conditions. The test runs successfully demonstrated that the locomotive’s post-construction technical specifications are correct—the C30-M is also suitable for line service operations.
In May, Operail applied to the European Union Agency for Railways to change the locomotive type of C30-M. CPTRA, as the representative, processed this, and the permit was issued in early August.
“Operail has always been a pioneer of innovations leading towards a more efficient future for the Estonian railway sector. In 2019, we were the first in Estonia to receive a permit from the CPTRA for one-person operation, as the C36 locomotive was certified for this purpose. Now, our self-built C30-M can handle the entire freight transport process. We are moving full steam ahead and hope that soon the new, efficient, and versatile C30-M locomotive will also be approved for one-person operation,” said Kurvits.
Operail’s Tapa depot is the only place in Estonia where locomotives are built. Operail started the C30-M project in 2016. The first locomotive was completed in 2017 and began operating in the fall of 2018. To date, twelve locomotives have been built. Nine of these are in Operail’s use and serve freight transport in Estonia, while three have been adapted for the Finnish railway, are certified there, and do their daily work in Finland.
The locomotive is assembled using the body frame and running gear of the С30-7Ai locomotive by General Electric and modules designed by the European manufacturer CZ Loko. The six-axle C30-MF weighs 135 tonnes, has an axle load of 22.5 tonnes, and is AC/DC electrically powered. The locomotive is powered by a Caterpillar 3512C HD diesel engine rated at 1,550 kW (2,079 hp) and has a top speed of 100 kilometres per hour. You can read more about the C30-M locomotive HERE.