Alstom has signed a contract with Mercitalia Rail to supply 70 Traxx Universal locomotives and 12 years of full maintenance services.
The contract is worth around €323 million and includes the option for an additional 30 vehicles and an extension to the duration of the maintenance services.
Traxx Universal is an advanced four-axle locomotive platform which offers high energy efficiency and traction capacity and guarantees increased reliability and availability.
Some of the trains will also be fitted with last mile technology, which enables a seamless transition from line haul traction into non-electrified lines.
Mercitalia Rail is a company of the Polo Logistica FS.
Michele Viale, Managing Director of Alstom in Italy, said: “We are delighted to announce this significant new contract with Polo Logistica, a longstanding customer and one of Italy’s pioneers in investing in high-power electric locomotives.
“This new agreement reinforces the operations at the Vado Ligure site [where the trains are manufactured] and reaffirms our expertise in cutting-edge railway technologies.
“The supply contract includes some last mile locomotives capable of directly connecting the railway network with terminals and ports, enhancing worldwide cargo handling efficiency, speed, and security.”
Technicians across five depots across Italy currently oversee the maintenance of more than 200 Traxx Universal locomotives. Following this contract, the number of trains will now exceed 300.
To accommodate this growth, the technicians will benefit from a new local hub specialised in digital maintenance, which will capture data and monitor the locomotives in real time.
This will allow maintenance and minor interventions to be carried out at over 10 sites across the country, ensuring maximum fleet performance.
Image credit: Alstom
