Russian Railways (RZD) is facing a shortage of locomotives. The shortage is reportedly caused by a lack of importable spare parts due to Western sanctions. The situation has become particularly problematic in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The locomotive shortage came to light in a statistics report by RZD, according to Russian publication Vedomosti. A representative of RZD has stated that the company is working at ‘maximum speed’ to alleviate the problem. While the numbers would indicate that the company has sufficient locomotives to develop its freight base, the amount of real opportunities for the transport of freight are on the decline. In January, RZD’s monthly freight loading volumes decreased by over four per cent.
Locomotive repair and maintenance companies are struggling to acquire lubricants, bearings and electronic components as a result of Western sanctions. As a result, they fail to conduct maintenance works in a qualitatively sufficient manner, leading locomotives to often break down on the tracks.
At the same time, RZD is actively replacing its rolling stock with domestically produced locomotives and wagons. In doing so, it aims to become less reliant on foreign parts and guarantee self-sufficiency. In 2023, RZD purchased 557 new locomotives of Russian production, of which 310 are electric and 247 diesel-powered locomotives.
More problems
The locomotive deficit is aggravated by the reorientation of Russia’s exports to the east. Exporting eastward requires goods to travel much larger distances, requiring more rolling stock to maintain freight volumes. Additionally, the production of rolling stock is below its potential, as military production has taken priority in Russia’s war economy. Consequently, the price of rolling stock in Russia has doubled throughout 2022 and 2023.
Besides a shortage of spare parts, Russia’s maintenance capacity is also hampered by a labour shortage. Approximately half a million men have been taken out of the economy for military duty.
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