Rouen Freight

Son-in-law (lorry driver) mentioned that recently he had noticed more locomotives than usual in the freight yard at Rouen. He's not into trains but described them as 'the orange diesels with the cab in the middle'. anybody know why there are so many? Are they for scrapping or what?

Mikey

Mikey: your son in law must have been on the D18E which runs past Sotteville Yard; it is on my route from home to France and I drive it often. There are indeed dozens of locos "stored" there and have been for the past year - mostly diesel freight types 66000s and so on but also some electrics. There have been photos and comment on this in the French rail press, but I can't find any pics on line. The explanation is that French rail freight has collapsed in recent years - even before the recession - that SNCF's awful industrial relations system has made rail freight completely uneconomic and it has withdrawn its wagonload service. These are the locos that are now surplus to requirements. I think they are nominally "garees bon etat" - capable of re-use - but some have been standing for over a year. I imagine most will eventually go for scrap, but that will cost money and it costs nothing just to leave them rotting.

thanks Phil. he says thats the one. Its a shame but he says its an impressive sight!!

mikey

Mostly all 66000 and 66500 have been replaced by new diesel recently. Probably they're waiting to be scrape or sold to another country.

The new diesel it 's called 61000.

You could find the 61000 within other railways company like VFLI, Colas Rail, TSO.

Are these the ones?

Rouen april 2010

Rouen april 2010

Some are 63500, but most likely all those locs are parked since the begenning of the crisis.
And a lot of places has been closed for the freight so there's more loc parked.

Most are old ones some not use anymore probably.

Paulus wrote:

Are these the ones?

Yep, that's the line-up. As well as the freight decline, worth remembring that virtually all former loco-hauled passenger services have been replaced by new D/EMUs.