Alstom shall supply the FS Group’s Mercitalia Hub, with 20 new-generation Traxx DC3 electric locomotives, known in Italy as the Loco E494. Delivery of these 20 new units is scheduled to commence in early 2024 and will be completed in the same year.
These 20 additional units form part of the contract signed in December 2017 by Mercitalia Rail. Alstom has already delivered 40 Traxx DC3 locomotives, all of which have been in commercial operation for more than three years. The locomotives in the fleet will then be included in the full maintenance programme of the Alstom Italia Service.
“To render rail transport increasingly sustainable and efficient, it is necessary to renew our fleet of locomotives and wagons,” says Gianpiero Strisciuglio, CEO of Mercitalia Logistics. “Over a 10-year period, we plan to purchase 3,500 wagons and over 300 new generation, environmentally-friendly electric and hybrid locomotives, including these 20. These locomotives are very innovative given that they can be equipped to perform the last rail mile, penetrating directly into non-electrified areas such as inland terminals and ports with a quick power change, directly connecting rail transport with other modes.”
“We are extremely proud that Mercitalia Rail, our long-standing customer and the first to invest in the Traxx DC3 high-power electric locomotive, has decided to exercise this purchase option for a further 20 units in addition to the 40 already delivered,” said Michele Viale, General Manager of Alstom Italia and President and CEO of Alstom Ferroviaria. “This additional agreement is further proof of the trust that our customers have in our Group and in the Traxx DC3 product, which has more than 160 units sold, of which around 90 circulate on the Italian rail network.”
Traxx DC3 is the latest generation of high-power electric locomotives that maximises efficiency, minimises maintenance and provides greater load and traction capacity with lower energy consumption.
The Traxx DC3 locomotive is part of the Traxx 3 platform, the most modern four-axle locomotive in Europe, which has seen sales of over 2,400 units in the last 20 years in Europe, with homologation in 20 countries and a total annual distance covered of over 300 million kilometres.
All Traxx DC3 locomotives designed for the Italian market will be produced at Alstom’s Vado Ligure site. This factory has over one hundred years of experience in the design and construction of locomotives, including the latest generation of Traxx electric locomotives, and is a centre for the production and maintenance of rolling stock and sub-systems. At this historical site, 400-plus employees currently work in the manufacture of Traxx DC3 electric locomotives, along with carrying out major overhauls of traction vehicles.
(FS Group)
