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ČD Cargo

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ČD Cargo, a.s.
Headquarters
Prague
,
Czech Republic
ServicesFreight transport[1]
RevenueDecrease CZK 14.1 bn. (2012)[1]
Decrease CZK -2.0 bn. (2012)[1]
Total assetsDecrease CZK 14.9 bn. Kč (2012)[1]
Total equityDecrease CZK 6.0 bn. (2012)[1]
Number of employees
Decrease 6,531 (2021)[2]
ParentČeské dráhy, a.s. (100 %)[1]
Websitecdcargo.cz
Siemens Vectron electric locomotive of ČD Cargo

ČD Cargo, a.s. (VKM: ČDC) is a state-owned Czech railway operator focused on freight operations. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the passenger railway operator České dráhy.

History

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During the 1990s and 2000s, there were substantial efforts to restructure and modernise the railways of the Czech Republic; these included the founding of the railway operator České dráhy (Czech Railways) in January 2003.[3] Seeking to reduce losses and become commercially competitive, various reforms were implemented, which included the centralisation of some activities (such as purchasing and internal stocking) while other activities were outsourced to third parties to increase efficiency; accordingly, employee headcount was reduced while new technologies were introduced. For the second phase of this restructuring, on 1 December 2007, České dráhy spun off its freight operations into the newly established subsidiary ČD Cargo.[3][4] At the time of its creation, the value of transferred long term assets with original accounting value amounting to CZK 4.8 billion was increased by evaluation difference CZK 5.5 billion, as calculated by the advisory company YBN CONSULT.[5][6] As a result, ownership equity amounted to CZK 9.1 billion and CZK 8.8 billion of registered capital was entered into the commercial register.[6]

At the time of its founding, ČD Cargo benefitted from the Czech Republic possessing amongst the highest density of railway tracks in Europe, roughly one third of which being electrified; however, the network had been underinvested in during the latter part of the twentieth century while road transportation had expanded greatly to carry around 75% of freight by 2008 against 22% going by rail.[3] In May 2008, Josef Bazala, director general of ČD Cargo, noted that the operator owned 950 locomotives and approximately 26 thousand freight cars, whilst roughly 12,500 employees had been transferred from České dráhy to CD Cargo. Furthermore, Bazala stated that the organisation was currently pursuing several medium term goals, including the renewal of its rolling stock, the construction of new logistics centres, and the general improvement of customer service levels; over the following two years, €120 million was invested into new purchases, reconstruction, and modernisation.[3]

Early on, ČD Cargo openly pursued various business opportunities outside of its domestic market; it quickly become engaged in multiple projects European Union (EU) projects.[3] By 2016, the organisation had developed its international footprint to become one of the five biggest rail freight carriers active in the EU. As such, in addition to serving customers at approximately 1,000 locations across the Czech Republic, ČD Cargo was, via its subsidiary companies, hauling mixed materials (mainly coal) in Poland, transporting intermodal freight in Slovakia and Hungary, and conveying automotive goods in Germany.[7] Shortly following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, ČD Cargo started hauling aid from the Czech Republic to Ukraine.[8] In April 2022, the subsidiary ČD Cargo Adria secured a license to operate freight services in Croatia.[9]

During 2018, plans were mooted for the privatisation of ČD Cargo. However, in November of that year, it was announced that no change would occur and that ČD Cargo would remain a state-owned entity; this was reportedly due to a decision by Andrej Babiš, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, to veto the proposal.[10]

ČD Cargo has operated a diverse fleet of locomotives; amongst its oldest are the Class 742 diesel locomotives, originally built between 1977 and 1986; by the 2020s, ČD Cargo was struggling to maintain them due to a lack of spare components. Thus, the company has issued CZ Loko with multiple contracts to modernise numerous Class 742s into Effishunter 1000M units, which are reclassified as Class 742.71; by May 2022, ČD Cargo had 37 modernised Class 742.71 locomotives in its inventory.[11][12] The company has also pursued new-build locomotives; in October 2020, ČD Cargo issued a tender for the supply of up to 26 new electric locomotives for the operation of its international freight services.[13] During July 2020, ČD Cargo commenced operation of its fleet of 10 Alstom Traxx dual-power locomotives, which are equipped with a last-mile diesel engine in addition to its electric mode; up to 40 may be ordered in an existing framework with the manufacturer.[14]

Both ČD Cargo and parent company České dráhy have operated Siemens Vectron electric locomotives; these are often leased from other companies.[15] ČD Cargo received its first Vectron in 2016; the type is suitable for operation in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, being equipped to operate ETCS Level 2 Baseline 3 and under four types of electrification: 1.5kV dc, 3kV dc, 25kV 50Hz ac and 15kV 16.7Hz ac. During August 2022, ČD Cargo ordered an additional ten Vectron MS locomotives under a framework contract for up to 50; it already operated 12 such locomotives by this point.[16][17]

In 2020, on account of the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, ČD Cargo experienced its most challenging operating circumstances; there was a major reduction, by approximately four million tonnes, in goods being transported over the previous year, which led to the company recording an after-tax loss of -248 million CZK for the year. However, by April 2021, freight operations had reportedly returned to profitability; austerity measures, such as 500 employees being made redundant and the discarding of 1,200 wagons and several dozen locomotives, had helped stem losses.[18] In November 2022, it was announced that Czech plans to subsidise electrified rail operations had been approved by the European Commission, benefitting companies such as ČD Cargo.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Annual report of ČD Cargo, a.s. for calendar year 2012
  2. ^ Annual report of ČD Cargo, a.s. for calendar year 2021
  3. ^ a b c d e "Essential steps of CD Cargo for improved performance". globalrailwayreview.com. 28 May 2008.
  4. ^ "Carrying out dynamic changes to secure future position". globalrailwayreview.com. 15 May 2009.
  5. ^ Notářský zápis sepsaný dne 31 October 2007 o rozhodnutí jedináho akcionáře při výkonu působnosti valné hromady společnosti České dráhy a.s., evaluation No. 2248/2007 dated 14 May 2007 was calculated by company YBN CONSULT - Znalecký ústav s.r.o., ID 25614274.
  6. ^ a b Annual report of ČD Cargo, a.s. for financial year 2008, page 53.
  7. ^ "Modernisation and improvement brings a bright future for Ceské dráhy". globalrailwayreview.com. 4 February 2016.
  8. ^ "European railways remain committed to relief efforts supporting Ukrainians". globalrailwayreview.com. 18 March 2022.
  9. ^ Vosman, Quintus (17 April 2022). "ČD Cargo receives operating licence for Croatian rail network". International Rail Journal.
  10. ^ Vosman, Quintus (22 November 2018). "Czech government scraps CD Cargo privatisation plan". International Rail Journal.
  11. ^ Vosman, Quintus (7 October 2019). "CZ Loko to deliver Effishunter 1600 to ČD Cargo". International Rail Journal.
  12. ^ Burroughs, David (16 May 2022). "CZ Loko to modernise additional ČD Cargo class 742 locomotives". International Rail Journal.
  13. ^ Cuenc, Oliver (30 October 2020). "ČD Cargo launches tender for up to 26 locomotives". International Rail Journal.
  14. ^ Cuenc, Oliver (21 July 2020). "ČD Cargo begins commercial trials with new Traxx locomotives". International Rail Journal.
  15. ^ "Czech Railways take over the first of 10 new Vectrons to expand fleet". globalrailwayreview.com. 17 February 2022.
  16. ^ Vosman, Quintus (3 August 2022). "CD Cargo orders multi-system Vectron locomotives". International Rail Journal.
  17. ^ Barrow, Keith (2 May 2017). "More Vectrons for ČD Cargo". International Rail Journal.
  18. ^ "From the worst out there, the head of ČD Cargo Tóth reports a return to profit". railtarget.eu. 29 April 2021.
  19. ^ Artymiuk, Simon (11 November 2022). "EC approves Czech scheme to support electric rail operators". International Rail Journal.
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