Alstom and Northrail have signed a framework agreement at InnoTrans covering up to 100 Traxx Shunter locomotives, the first order for the platform, with a potential total value of up to €700 million including maintenance and options.
Alstom and rolling stock lessor Northrail have signed a framework agreement at the InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin covering the supply of up to 100 Traxx Shunter locomotives. Alstom said it is the world’s first order for the next-generation Traxx Shunter and clears the way for the platform’s commercial launch, following several years of research and development.
The total value of the framework agreement may reach up to €700 million, and first deliveries are scheduled for the end of 2029. Northrail is majority-owned by RIVE Private Investment through RTAIF (RIVE Transportation Assets Income Fund), an infrastructure fund dedicated to assets that contribute to the decarbonisation of transport.
Firm order covers Germany, with options for France
The firm order comprises pantograph-diesel Traxx Shunter locomotives for deployment in Germany, together with 10 years of maintenance services, which Alstom said amounts to just under €100 million. The locomotives will be designed and assembled at Alstom’s Belfort centre of excellence in France. The wider agreement includes options for additional locomotives, including for deployment in France, and up to 20 years of maintenance.
Frédéric Wiscart, President of Alstom France, Belgium and Luxembourg, said: “We are particularly proud to announce the world’s first order for the next-generation Traxx Shunter locomotives. Beyond its significance for our French sites, this contract demonstrates the confidence placed in our customer, Northrail, by rail operators. It also confirms the relevance of our solutions in meeting the growing demand of all stakeholders for greener transportation.”
Dr Volker Simmering, Chief Executive Officer of Northrail, said: “With the new Traxx Shunter, we are bringing a modern flexible mid-cabin locomotive to the market that closes the gap between conventional shunters and dual-mode mainline locomotives. For operators, the benefit is compelling: lower energy and maintenance costs, high availability and substantial CO2 savings translate into lower total operating costs from day one. Together with Alstom, we are combining proven rail expertise with a future-ready, modular platform that can evolve with our customers’ needs, including the option to replace the Diesel module into a battery one at a later stage.”
Camille Brunel, Partner at RIVE Private Investment, said: “Shunting is the largest stronghold of ageing diesel traction in Europe, and operators need a credible path to renew these fleets. As Northrail’s shareholder and its partner in rail for close to a decade, we are backing this new Alstom platform because it gives operators a modular answer that can evolve with their needs.”
Platform designed for shunting and mainline work
Alstom describes the Traxx Shunter as a modular and scalable platform for shunting, track works and mainline operations, able to combine multiple energy sources. The pantograph-diesel variant selected by Northrail is aimed at medium to heavy-duty shunting, including on mainline networks. It runs on liquid diesel fuel, which can also be HVO or biodiesel, and is designed to operate at speeds of up to 120 km/h.
According to Alstom, the traction power allows the locomotives to haul longer and heavier wagon consists and accelerate through curves and hilly sections, supported by an adhesion control system. The company said its shunting locomotives can also be integrated more easily into mainline traffic.
The driver’s cab can be accessed from either the front or the rear and includes multiple cameras and platforms at both ends for shunting work. The locomotive is fitted with the modular Onvia ETCS system and can accommodate national signalling systems where required.
Maintenance will be supported by Alstom’s HealthHub digital condition-based and predictive maintenance solution and the company’s service network. Alstom said its Traxx portfolio covers shunting, passenger, multi-purpose and heavy-haul freight locomotives, with more than 6,000 units sold worldwide since 2000.
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