7779 Antwerpen Berchem 23 05 2011
12.24: 7779 working in tandem with 7782 on Xpedys zinc ore Covhops, passing Berchem towards Antwerpen Haven docks.
This lok was built by Vossloh at Kiel Werke [D] as part of the HLD77 loks ordered by SNCB - Societé Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges.
It was delivered to SNCB on 22/11/2002 (Works No. 1000996).
In total 170 HLD 77s were delivered between September 1999 and September 2005.
This was probably too many ordered in optimistic times to replace the aging older diesel loks as shunters and freight loks.
Wagonload was going down all around Europe and smaller yards closing including in Belgium.
A few months before the phot on 1 February 2011, SNCB spun off their freight division into SNCB Logistics NV/SA.
In 2015, they changed the name to the snazzy B Logistics NV/SA, as cost accounting removed the blurred lines between passenger and freight services with each division "leasing" loks to each other as needed.
By 2017, the losses on freight were mounting, even as the bean counters juggled the numbers to show they were "profitable".
So SNCB sold 60% of B Logistics to private equity and the division was rebranded as LINEAS.
Since then, LINEAS actually made a profit for one more year (€14 million in 2018), then lost over €400 million over the next 6 years. Capital injections in 2023 and 2024 have helped it keep afloat.
Asset selling has increased, including 7779.
In 2021, it was sold to BRLL - Beacon Rail Leasing Ltd., London and leased back by LINEAS.
If you want a laugh, compare the LINEAS info on the English and French versions of Wikipedia.
Work out which one looks like it was written by their Corporate Affairs and PR Department 😏
7779 Antwerpen Berchem 23 05 2011
12.24: 7779 working in tandem with 7782 on Xpedys zinc ore Covhops, passing Berchem towards Antwerpen Haven docks.
This lok was built by Vossloh at Kiel Werke [D] as part of the HLD77 loks ordered by SNCB - Societé Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges.
It was delivered to SNCB on 22/11/2002 (Works No. 1000996).
In total 170 HLD 77s were delivered between September 1999 and September 2005.
This was probably too many ordered in optimistic times to replace the aging older diesel loks as shunters and freight loks.
Wagonload was going down all around Europe and smaller yards closing including in Belgium.
A few months before the phot on 1 February 2011, SNCB spun off their freight division into SNCB Logistics NV/SA.
In 2015, they changed the name to the snazzy B Logistics NV/SA, as cost accounting removed the blurred lines between passenger and freight services with each division "leasing" loks to each other as needed.
By 2017, the losses on freight were mounting, even as the bean counters juggled the numbers to show they were "profitable".
So SNCB sold 60% of B Logistics to private equity and the division was rebranded as LINEAS.
Since then, LINEAS actually made a profit for one more year (€14 million in 2018), then lost over €400 million over the next 6 years. Capital injections in 2023 and 2024 have helped it keep afloat.
Asset selling has increased, including 7779.
In 2021, it was sold to BRLL - Beacon Rail Leasing Ltd., London and leased back by LINEAS.
If you want a laugh, compare the LINEAS info on the English and French versions of Wikipedia.
Work out which one looks like it was written by their Corporate Affairs and PR Department 😏