The Régie autonome des transports Parisiens (RATP), operator of the Paris Metro, has placed an order with Stadler for twelve battery-powered locomotives. This move highlights Stadler’s dedication to sustainable and flexible solutions. These locomotives will be used for service, maintenance, and repairs across the entire RATP network and are set to enter passenger service in 2027.
This order marks the first time RATP has commissioned Stadler, with the framework agreement also including an option for two additional vehicles. The locomotives will support the maintenance of the Paris Metro’s 245-kilometre infrastructure.
One Locomotive for All Lines
As part of an RATP initiative to streamline and enhance metro infrastructure maintenance, these new locomotives will complement the existing fleet from 2027. The four-axle locomotives, each 15 metres long, feature fully automatic couplings and can operate in double traction. Designed for the standard gauge, they can navigate the tight curves typical of the network and are suitable for all 14 lines of the Paris Metro, including both steel-wheel and rubber-tyre routes.
Efficient, Battery-Electric Drive
The new RATP locomotives will haul heavy work trains to construction sites on the metro’s rail network. They are authorised to operate alongside regular metro services and on driverless routes, capable of pulling around 120 tonnes in single traction and approximately 240 tonnes in double traction.
The new locomotives are designed to be flexible, low-maintenance, and environmentally friendly. Their high redundancy ensures exceptional safety and reliability, which is crucial for operations in tunnels alongside metro traffic and at construction sites.
In battery-electric mode, energy is supplied to the locomotives either through the pantograph or via on-board traction batteries. During normal operations, the conductor rail provides 750 V of electrical energy. However, on construction sites where the conductor rail is deactivated, the locomotives rely on their traction batteries, which are recharged through the conductor rail when it is active.
Photo credit: iStock
