Discussion Over Ban On Loco Life Extension Without Modernization

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade would likes to initiate a ban on obsolete locomotive life extension without modernization, the Kommersant reports. The Ministry insists on introducing the ban since August 2016.

The ban on obsolete locomotive life extension was to come into force in 2014 but a decision was taken then to postpone it for two more years to avoid “locomotive deficit on the network”. The Ministry of Industry and Trade arguments now that the Customs Union Technical Regulations introducing new requirements to locomotives came into force in 2014 and its grace period is to expire on August 1, 2016.

If the Ministry’s point of view is accepted, the only way to extend older locomotives’ life would be modernization and the following mandatory certification.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is opposed by the Ministry of Transport that suggest extending the grace period to 2018. Kazakhstan, who is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (successor of the Customs Union) proposes an extension to 2017.