CZ LOKO 753 604-8 in Komárom, Hungary, on 4 December 2014. Picture by Ferenc Németh.
It's been an open secret that CER Cargo Holding was in talks with CZ LOKO about an order for one EffiLiner 3000 dual-system electric and one EffiLiner 1600 'Bizon' diesel locomotive. CZ LOKO has now released the official details about the agreement.
The delivery of both locos is planned for the first quarter of 2018, but both will end up with different subsidiaries. The electric (ordered 10/2017) will be delivered to CER Slovakia, the Bizon (ordered 12/2017, designated 753 609) will be delivered to CER Hungary. Currently, CER Cargo Holding and CZ LOKO are also nearing an agreement for the delivery of a second Bizon, which would enter service for CER Slovakia upon delivery. Besides Slovakia and Hungary, the locomotives will see use in the Czech Republic.
CER Cargo Holding is the fourth operator to order EffiLiner 1600 diesel locomotives. An overview of previous orders:
SD - Kolejová doprava: 5 locomotives (753 601-605)
Unipetrol Doprava: 2 locomotives (753 606-607)
PSZ: 1 locomotive (753 608)
CER Cargo Holding also owns one CZ LOKO EffiShunter 1600 locomotive.
CER Cargo 774 714-0 near Dunakeszi, Hungary, on 20 July 2017. Picture by Laszlo Nagy.
