SCRL Brașov completes final battery-electric locomotive modernization

SCRL Brașov, a subsidiary of CFR Călători, has completed the testing of the final battery-electric locomotive (LEA) under a modernization project funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). This marks the conclusion of a major contract to convert 20 diesel-hydraulic locomotives into plug-in battery-electric maneuvering locomotives.

The project involved significant technical modifications, including chassis doubling to manage weight, complete rewiring, and the creation of new compartments for motor-reducer units and battery packs. The modernization work, which included 17 other electric locomotives, was part of a broader 105 million euro initiative.

The new battery-powered locomotives are expected to operate at depots in Brașov, Cluj, and Galați, with specific units designated for the Bucharest Călători depot to reduce diesel emissions in the area.