Kraków 2022-04-07

SKPL Shortliner.

SZT SN84 / VT614 / Baureihe 614.

SN84 is the Polish designation for the Baureihe 614 Diesel Traction Units, which were manufactured in the Federal Republic of Germany. In Poland, these trains are also designated VT614. Production of these trains was carried out in the period 1971 – 1975. 42 trains were built. The prototypes were equipped with a system of tilting boxes on curves. However, this complicated system was abandoned in the series trains.

Construction of SN84 / VT614 trains.

The train has three cars and an axle arrangement B’2’+2’2’+2’B’. The service weight is 141,800 kg. Length 79.84 m. The train has two diesel engines. Initially MAN D 3650 HM 12 U, with a power of 2 x 370 kW, at 2,150 rpm. Then Cummins QSK-19. Power 2 x 448 kW. Design speed 140 km/h. SN84 in the non-modernized version have two classes; 1 and 2. Some users have converted class 1 to class 2 to accommodate more seats. The trains used various seats and couches, which were finished with leather or fabric. The trains have open-system toilets. Modernized trains have closed-system toilets and air conditioning.Stowarzyszenie Kolejowych Przewozów Lokalnych.

SKPL stands for the Association of Local Railway Transport. The SKPL company is an association of companies operating in the railway industry. The company was founded on March 18, 2001, and registered on April 6, 2004. The association’s headquarters is located in Kalisz. The statutory goals of the Association of Local Railway Transport are: Creating conditions for the protection, maintenance and development of narrow-gauge and standard-gauge local railways in Poland. Popularizing the tradition and history of railways in Poland and conducting educational and educational activities. SKPL is the first private company in Poland to operate freight and passenger trains and a company that operates standard-gauge and narrow-gauge railway lines. Its rolling stock includes diesel locomotives and DMUs. In passenger traffic, SKPL currently (2022) operates passenger trains on the following routes: Pleszew City – Kowalewo, Kaliska Kolej Dojazdowa with a track gauge of 0.75 m. It also operates the standard gauge line Rzeszów – Sanok – Łupków. The company’s offer includes the possibility of ordering service for lines belonging to local governments. SKPL Infrastruktura i Linie Kolejowe manages the following railway lines on behalf of local governments: Kaliska Kolej Dojazdowa (KKD), Pleszewska Kolej Lokalna (PKL), LK no. 212 (Lipusz – Bytów), LK no. 259 (Karolewo (siding) – Węgorzewo). In 2010, the activities of the Association of Local Railway Transport were reorganized. SKPL Cargo Sp. z o.o. and SKPL Infrastruktura i Linie Kolejowe Sp. z o.o. were established. The changes were aimed at separating the functions of the railway carrier from the functions of the railway infrastructure manager. SKPL Cargo Sp. z o.o. is a commercial entity established in 2010, and built on the experience of the Kalisz Association of Local Railway Transport founded in 2001. From the very beginning, they operated as a group of independent hobbyists, supported by qualified staff of railway workers, employed in parallel with the takeover of subsequent railway lines excluded from the PKP structures.

At the beginning of 2002, regular passenger transport began on two narrow-gauge lines, thus becoming the first private railway operator in Poland operating after 1989.

Today (2022), SKPL Cargo Sp. z o.o. operates as a company specializing in both freight and passenger transport. It mainly handles cargo transport and provides shunting services. The maintenance of railway facilities is handled by SKPL Infrastruktura i Linie Kolejowe Sp. z o.o. The company operates throughout the country.

SKPL rolling stock.

Since 2010, the company has had an M62 “Gagarin” locomotive with No. 1286. In 2018, the locomotive was sold.

In 2019, the company purchased an ST43-115 locomotive from PKP Cargo. Two more copies with numbers 108 and 245 were purchased in January 2020.

In 2020, three SM42 series locomotives with numbers 070, 071 and 453 were purchased.

SKPL uses the Czechoslovakian passenger motor car 810.

From January to July 2019, SKPL leased two MR/MRD passenger trains, i.e. two-car DMUs.

The company operates passenger DMUs SN82, SN83, SN84.

In November 2020, SKPL confirmed the purchase of 32 DM90 diesel multiple units from Dutch Railways. The first 4 units reached the carrier at the end of November 2020.

According to available information, in January 2022 SKPL had: Diesel locomotives: S200 – 5 units, SM31 – 1 unit, SM42 – 4 units, ST43 – 3 units, SU45 – 1 unit, T448p – 1 unit. Diesel multiple units: SN82 – 3 units, SN83 – 3 units, SN84 – 6 units, 810 – 3 units, DM90 – 20 units.

Data: SKPL Cargo Sp. z o.o. Zbiersk Cukrownia 54, 62-830 Zbiersk.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman