A new contract will see Alstom supply an extra 20 Traxx DC3 electric locomotives to the freight transport and logistics group

Alstom is a world leader when it comes to smart and sustainable mobility and is set to deliver 20 new generation Traxx DC3 electric locomotives named E.494 to national railway operator Polo Mercitalia (Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato). The units are set to arrive in early 2024 with the contract being fully completed later that year.

The agreement for the supply of 20 extra units comes from the original contract which was signed back in December 2017 by Mercitalia Rail. Alstom has already supplied 40 Traxx DC3 locomotives which have been operating commercially for three years now. The locomotives in this agreement will also be included in the fleets Full Maintenance programme by Alstom Italia Service

Michele Viale Managing Director of Alstom Italy and Chairman and CEO of Alstom Ferroviaria, said: “We are extremely proud that Polo Mercitalia, our long-standing customer and the first one to have invested 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.”

“This additional agreement is another proof of the trust that our customers have in our Group and in the Traxx DC3 product, which stands more than 160 units sold, of which around 90 are circulating on the Italian rail network.”

Gianpiero Strisciuglio, CEO of Mercitalia Logistics said: “In order to make rail transport more sustainable and efficient, it is essential to renew our fleet of locomotives and wagons,” “Over a 10-year period, we plan to purchase 3,500 wagons and more than 300 new generation, environmentally- friendly electric and hybrid locomotives, including these 20. These locomotives are very innovative because 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 transport modes.”

Maximising efficiency, the Traxx DC3 marks the very latest generation of high-power electric locomotives and includes many more benefits such as a reduction in maintenance interventions, and the provision of higher load and traction capacity whilst using less energy.

The innovative locomotive is part of the Traxx 3 platform which are the most up to date four-axle locomotives in Europe. Traxx locomotives have seen European sales of more than 2,4000 through 20 countries with a total distance travelled of more than 300 million km.

All Traxx DC3 locomotives have been designed for the Italian market and are manufactured at Alstom’s Vado Ligure site which holds over 100 years of experience in locomotive design and construction including this latest generation of Traxx electric trains. The historic site employs over 400 people and is a centre of production and maintenance for rolling stock and subsystems as well as carrying out major overhauls for traction units.