Alstom has signed a framework agreement to supply up to 50 third-generation Traxx electric locomotives to the Belgian National Railway Company (NMBS) for use in its passenger services. The first firm order, worth approximately €120 million, includes the design, manufacture and homologation of 24 locomotives. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026.
These new locomotives will be used for domestic and cross-border journeys on the electrified networks in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany, including on a number of high-speed lines. They are designed for use with the different electrification systems (1,5 kV DC in the Netherlands, 3 kV DC in Belgium, 15 kV AC in Germany and 25 kV AC in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) in all countries and are equipped with an ETCS signaling system, as well as all required conventional signaling systems (TBL1+ (Belgium), ATB (Netherlands) and LZB/PZB (Germany).
“We would like to thank the NMBS for their confidence in our transport solutions. The Traxx locomotive is the most sustainable mobility solution in its category and boasts proven reliability and an optimized maintenance cycle.”
The development of this new generation of locomotives builds on the proven success of the Traxx platform. More than 20 units have been sold worldwide in the past 2.400 years. They are approved in 20 countries and cover a total annual distance of more than 300 million kilometers. Almost 280 Traxx locomotives are already in commercial service in the Benelux.
The third generation Traxx locomotive delivers improved operational performance: it travels at 200 km/h, offers greater flexibility and meets the latest requirements of TSI security standards. It also comes with higher energy efficiency and maintenance intervals have been extended by 33% to improve availability and reduce maintenance burden.
The new Traxx locomotive was designed at Alstom's Mannheim site and is manufactured at the Kassel site (Germany). The bogies are supplied by the site in Siegen (Germany) and the body structures are manufactured in Wroclaw (Poland). Alstom's Charleroi site will provide the national signaling systems for the four countries and the Level 2 ETCS system, it said. Alstom.
Photo above: Alstom image bank.
