Czech freight operator Advanced World Transport (AWT), a subsidiary of PKP Cargo, has delivered a batch of cars from Czechia to the Slovenian port of Koper. The operation was provided with one Vectron multisystem locomotive and without changing vehicles at the state borders.

After crossing Austria, the AWT’s multisystem locomotive entered Slovenia in the evening of 20 August. Early in the morning the next day, it arrived at the port of Koper. This operation has become possible due to AWT’s acquisition of Slovenian transport company Primol-Rail. The deal provided PKP Cargo with new opportunities on the Slovenian railway market.

No swap

“Since PKP Cargo Group is licensed to operate in, inter alia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria, it is able to operate trains from Poland to the Slovenian-Italian border and to the Slovenian border using only one multi-system locomotive”, CEO of AWT Maciej Walczyk said.

The Czech subsidiary of PKP Cargo serves around 10 trains a week towards the Slovenian border, where the freight wagons are taken over by local operators. The direct service without changing locomotives will allow PKP Cargo to increase the number of trains running on the corridor between the Baltic and Adriatic Seas.

Vectron locomotives

AWT’s direct freight service between Czechia and Koper is another milestone in implementing PKP Cargo’s strategy of strengthening its presence on the Baltic-Adriatic corridor. Earlier, in January, the Polish company ordered five Vectron multisystem locomotives from Siemens Mobility for AWT operations.

The vehicles will run in several European countries: Poland, Germany, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. In July PKP Cargo received three of five ordered vehicles, two other units will be delivered later. The company’s fleet includes 18 Vectron multisystem locomotives. PKP Cargo is operating this type of rolling stock since January 2016.