Serbia, Hungary: At the end of February, the first mainline Bison locomotive hauled a 20-tank wagon consist on the upgraded Belgrade–Budapest line.
Two such locomotives were built at CRRC Zhuzhou in 2020-21. They were ordered in 2019 by freight operator Rail Cargo Hungaria, a subsidiary of Austrian national operator ÖBB. Since then, the locomotives have undergone certification to meet European TSI requirements.
Mainline electric locomotive Bison from CRRC on the Belgrade–Budapest line. Source: Srbija Kargo
The four-axle locomotives develop 5.6 MW of power, with a starting tractive effort of 300 kN and a maximum operating speed of 140 km/h. They are also fitted with 200 kWh supercapacitors that can be charged from the overhead contact line, providing up to 10 km of last-mile autonomy.
Mainline electric locomotive Bison from CRRC on the Belgrade–Budapest line. Source: Srbija Kargo
CRRC has previously supplied Chinese-built shunting locomotives to Germany and Austria, and mainline electric locomotives to North Macedonia and Serbia. In addition, the company has owned German locomotive manufacturer Vossloh since 2020; the plant is now securing orders and bringing new products to market.
Rail Cargo Hungaria began operating its first two hybrid class 461 shunting locomotives from CRRC in 2024. The operator took them on a four-year lease from the manufacturer. Chinese EMUs are also due to enter service soon on the Belgrade–Budapest route.
