FNM Cargo
After an year, we are back to talk about FNM freight services, which in this period of time have had an extraordinary evolution. In October 2002's issue (read it) existing services were only about the consolidate relation from Melzo to Domodossola (and Zeebrugge) operated by E.630 electrics with a daily run and services taken from the former SNFT owner along the Brescia-Edolo line. The first two "bespectacled" locos D.752 were freshly arrived and nothing more of this. But starting in April 2003 trackage rights bought from RFI and good ideas by FNM have becamen operational : slowly month by month a new service was starting, on many important lines departing from Milano. While RailItaly was already operating its trains from S.Zeno to Villadossola, FNM with other E.630s diverted from passenger services started two couples of night trains between Desio and Chiasso to haul steel and finished cars. Soon a third returning run was added to haul sliced paper, this time operated during light hours (a. Desio 17.20 Mon-Fri). The operational base of the locos is in Camnago FS and FNM common little yard, where units arrive early in the morning to start their turns. Another freigth began after many certification and test runs along Simplon line, between Domo2 and Gallarate yards. Here MU of E.630 haul containers or truck trailers labeled by Ambrogio firm, which owns a terminal facility right near Gallarate freight station. During the week the train arrive at its terminus in the noon, with variable timetables. On Sundays instead the arrival is fixed at 11.28 at Gallarate and the consist is made by E.630 heading 18 double flat cars (equiparable to 36 cars for more than 1000 tons) and by a diesel DE.145 (coming from the former SNFT roster) pushing on the rear. This train is really a show, with the noisy diesel pushing this big snake over 100km/h.... In the same time another service was started, from Domo2 to Novara Boschetto, via Arona-Oleggio. This train - again pulled by an E.630 - leaves Domo2 at 12.30 and arrives in Novara at 15.00 only on Wed and Fri and is used mainly to cary empty cars at the intermodal facility in Novara, where they are shunted by one of the two borrowed D.752. The other unit instead is stadly used on the only freight train coming from old FNM society: the Saronno-Seregno movement. Here, due to increased traffic (to BASF cars now there are even Indesit cars) the traction cannot be made again by little tractors DE.500, so until the end of the leasing contract this red and gray 752 makes a good job. Doing an easy count of the units in turn every day on various trains, it's easy to argue that in winter time to passenger services lasted just one of the nine E.630s, with consequential storing of all former SNCB coaches, rebuilt only to be used with these locos. Fortunately in May the first D.753 former CD has arrived, first of a group of 12 units named DE.520. With these units, now almost all in service, has been possible to begin a new freight, long thinked and programmed: the train from Domo2 to Reggio Emilia to haul clay to the Dinazzano yard. This train - made up by a MU of DE.520 and 17 Eaos/Eanos wagons - run from Monday to Saturday. The beginning was not so nice, because some problems due to movements management; the train was infact mostly in late. After some explanations and a better planning RFI gave to FNM a new trackage right and now the train is usually punctual: it departs from Domo2 at 13.28 and arrives in Reggio at 19.20. Sometime finally there are extra runs among Rovato, Melzo and Novara Boschetto. With the summer rhytmes are decreased and many E.630 now can be under check in Novate depot. Probably with the autumn and the reopening of schools some of them will remain on passenger network, been now possible to use DE.520 arrived in mass. In July then is arrived in Novate the first E.640, a Bo'Bo' machine formerly HZ and built in Italy in the 60's. Three of these units will play the role in new services, together with 6 axles locos former SZ of the future E.650 group, now still under rebuilding in Zagabria shops. The E.640 is waiting a test session in September, when will exit from the depot in new Cargo livery, inaugurated by the first DE.520. Waiting next news - possible new trains on Verona and Torino lines - we are now assisting even to leasing of FNM locos; it's infact a common use from July that RailItaly freight has a top-n-tailing traction made by E.630, being now impossible go ahead with FS Cargo leasing. So let's wait fast news from FNM, one of the very few new operators - together with RTC - demonstrating a strange vitality for italian railways schemes.