“Serbian Railways” have took over another two new DMUs. This is the second and the third passenger train set, out of total of bought 12 sets that will arrive in Serbia by the end of 2012, and will operate on non-electrified railway lines- said “Serbian Railways” Director General Milovan Markovic today at the main railway station in Belgrad on the occasion of DMU presentation.

One of them will operate between Lapovo and Kraljevo, while the other one will be reserved for route Belgrade Dunav Station – Pančevo – Vršac. These two sets should be included into traffic during May, following procedures required for obtaining the permit from Railway Directorate. This procedure now lasts significantly shorter then the prototype testing of the first DMU which arrived from Russia.
According to Markovic’s words, the first new Russian DMU operates since March 7th this year between railway stations Belgrade Dunav and Vršac. In this manner, Serbian Railways have reestablished regular passenger traffic after three years on this route.

-For the first time after three decades “Serbian Railways” arranged purchase of the new trains. These are 12 new DMUs of the series 711, which were purchased in the arrangement of Serbian railways with the Russian company “Metrovagonmas”. The value of these 12 sets is CHF43 million, and that amount is provided from the loan of the International Railway Bank “Eurofima” – said Markovic while addressing the guests and media representatives.

With full support of the Republic of Serbia Government we have started an overall modernization and reform process of Serbian Railways. We hope that the new trains on our railway will be the best announcement of the better, more modern and reformed railway company in Serbia, as a part of developed European railway network- pointed out Markovic.

The DMUs are designed for local and regional traffic on non-electrified railway lines. These trains are two-set type, with the capacity of 120 sitting and 126 standing palces. They have the most modern equippment and all the main components are made by the well known manufacturers from Europe according to all national and international standards. The maximum speed limit of the trains is 120km/h.

The remaining contracted nine sets from Russia will arrive in Serbia in succession until the end of the year and will be included into traffic. The new trains will be allocated on non-electrified lines in Serbia, among others on the routes Ruma-Šabac-Zvornik, Kraljevo railway junction, and the south of Serbia.

The new DMUs will successively replace pa passenger “railbuses” and “makose”, which are over 30 years old, and still are in traffic. However, due to old age, these trains often have failures, and their maintenance is very expensive, difficult, and unprofitable, making them almost impossible for regular passenger operation – on diesel traction routes. Also, the new DMUs shall replace the trains with diesel traction, which is in operational and economic regard much more rational, efficient and cheaper.

One should bear in mind that in Serbia out of total of 3.809 km , only 1.278 km is electrified, and that on over two thousand km of non-electrified lines, diesel locomotives and set are the ones that operate.

On the iniciative of “Serbian Railways” it was proposed to purchase another 25 trains of this kind for regional and local traffic, what would be financed from the $800 million loan of the Russian Federation. According to expert analysis, Serbia needs 40 trains of this kind, therefore the local and regional traffic in Serbia could be much more efficient and more effective with the procurement of additional sets using the assets from the Russian loan.