Prague, April 12, 2017: The largest Czech petrochemical group Unipetrol continues its planned investments. Its subsidiary Unipetrol Doprava which is engaged in railway transport and carriage of chemical products signed a contract with Siemens for the purchase of three modular multi-system locomotives Vectron MS. Czech Siemens will deliver the first locomotive in December this year, the other two in spring 2018. The purchase of new electric locomotives is part of the gradual vehicle fleet renewal at Unipetrol Doprava.
The Unipetrol Group continues its investments in the development of production, business and R&D activities in the Czech Republic. Under the adopted plan of strategic investment, Unipetrol envisages to invest over CZK 16 billion in 2017 and 2018. Under the planned investments falls also the renewal of the railway fleet at the subsidiary and the Czech Republic’s major carrier Unipetrol Doprava which, together with its contractual partners, provides transport to neighboring countries.
„Modernization of our vehicle fleet is one of the prerequisites for meeting our medium-term plan to increase the volume of transported products from the current 3.1 million tons to the planned four million transported tons in 2021,“ said Ladislav Hlína, Executive of UNIPETROL DOPRAVA, s.r.o., and added: „We are already working on the preparation of other investment projects.“
Siemens Vectron locomotives will be used mainly for chemical products transport and will be capable of operation in the Czech Republic as well as all neighboring countries, namely Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia. In addition to the national train safety systems of the individual countries, the locomotives will also be equipped with a modern unified European Train Control System (ETCS), GSM-R, and a remote diagnostics. The locomotives will have a maximum output of 6,400 KW and a top speed of 160 km/h. Given the locomotive’s modular concept, it can be retrofitted with packets for use in other countries. The first locomotive covered in Unipetrol’s corporate colors will be handed over this year in December. Other deliveries will follow in spring next year.
„We are pleased that it is the Siemens Vectron locomotives that Unipetrol chose to carry out its plan, expanding thereby its fleet of Vectrons which are already being used by a number of other carriers in the Czech Republic. It only confirms the fact that investments in the development of these locomotives were exactly the right step. Not only a demanding customer can appreciate its modularity and interoperability,” said Roman Kokšal, Director of the Mobility Division of Siemens s.r.o.
Unipetrol Doprava is a rail carrier that provides a broad portfolio of services on the railway market. Besides the carriage of chemical products Unipetrol Doprava specializes also in forwarding, leasing of railway wagons, repair and cleaning services as well as consulting activities. Among its customers are the companies of the chemical holding PKN Orlen Group, as well as a number of other external customers among which are important rail freight forwarding companies, foreign transport companies and other chemical plants not related to the holding.
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Siemens Czech Republic - Siemens is one of the largest technology companies in the Czech Republic and has been for more than 125 years an integral part of the Czech industry, being a guarantee of innovative technologies. With its 10,000 employees, it ranks among the largest employers in the country. The Siemens portfolio covers solutions for industry, energy, transport and public infrastructure, building technology and healthcare. The Czech Siemens is a pioneer in the industry 4.0 and Smart Cities, under which it provides the customers with comprehensive digital products and services. The Siemens Group in the Czech Republic recorded a turnover of CZK 29 billion in the fiscal year 2016. More information can be found at http://www.siemens.cz.
UNIPETROL, a.s., controls companies operating in the petrochemical industry in the Czech Republic. In 2005, Unipetrol became part of the PKN Orlen Group, the crude oil processor in Central Europe. Unipetrol Group focuses primarily on crude oil processing, fuel distribution and petrochemical production. In all these areas Unipetrol is among the most important companies in terms of turnover and employs 4,500 people.