Qemetica Cargo has reintroduced the 20D locomotive into its fleet under a five-year agreement with Tabor Dębica.
The locomotive is needed due to increased operational needs, particularly the transport of soda and glaze for Qemetica Silicates, focusing on operations between Inowrocław and Wapienno for limestone transport and servicing the factory in Żary.
Previously, the 20D underwent testing with Qemetica Cargo (then known as Ciech Cargo) in 2023. These trials included handling limestone transport on routes with challenging gradients, such as the 13‰ incline on the Wapienno-Inowrocław line, under various tonnage conditions.
Qemetica Cargo operates as part of Qemetica, an international chemical group. The company employs approximately 280 people, manages a fleet of 22 locomotives, and maintains about 1,500 freight wagons. It provides services including freight transport, wagon leasing, railway siding operations, and the maintenance of locomotives and wagons across Poland.
The 20D locomotive is a modernized version of the TEM2 model. Powered by 3512E CAT diesel engine, it complies with Stage V emission standards and has a power output of 1.6 MW, reaching maximum speed of 100 km/h. There were only two locomotives produced by Tabor Dębica so far.
Other Polish rolling stock manufacturers also offer a modernization of the TEM2 “Tamara” locomotives. PESA offers 19D locomotive, of only one prototype was made. Newag modernizes this locomotive to 15D version, which was the most successful so far, with 134 locomotives modernized, seven of which operate on broad-gauge railway line of PKP LHS.
