Alstom has announced the delivery of a set of three third-generation Traxx Universal multi-system locomotives to Captrain Polska, a rail freight operator and member of the Rail Logistics Europe group providing transport services across Europe.
The vehicles, which are approved for use in Poland, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium and Luxembourg, were partly manufactured at Alstom’s site in Wroclaw, Poland, and the company is set to remain responsible for the maintenance and preventive servicing of the locomotives during the warranty period.
Paweł Szczapiński, CEO of Captrain Polska, said:For more than ten years, Captrain Polska has leased Traxx locomotives in MS2 and DC2 configurations. However, these third-generation Traxx Universal locomotives will be the first modern locomotives purchased by our company, in line with the strategy of complementing the fleet with our own rolling stock.
The fact that this platform is approved in all countries where Captrain companies within the Rail Logistics Europe group operate represents an important competitive advantage on the East-West corridor, which has been identified as a strategic priority within the group.
Starting in September, the newly acquired Traxx MS3 locomotives will be seen operating in Poland, Germany, France and Belgium on projects coordinated by Captrain Polska. Their acquisition therefore perfectly supports both the company's local development strategy and the wider Rail Logistics Europe group strategy aimed at strengthening market competitiveness.
Alstom’s third-generation Traxx multi-system locomotives are capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h per hour, and can handle heavier trains compared to other locomotives in the same class. Their design has been based on a modular platform used in both passenger and freight transport, for domestic and cross-border operations, and available in AC, DC and multi-system versions.
Each of the locomotives delivered to Captain Polska are equipped with Alstom’s own Onvia signalling system, an onboard ETCS solution that enables seamless cross-border operations and compliance with European signalling standards.
Beata Rusinowicz, Managing Director of Alstom Poland, said:The Traxx Universal locomotives delivered to Captrain Polska provide above greater flexibility for international rail freight operations, eliminating technical barriers and the need to change locomotives at borders.
Thanks to their approval for operation in six European countries, the operator gains an asset that will increase operational efficiency and enable it to respond even more effectively to customer expectations.
We are proud that the expertise of our Polish team contributed to the successful delivery of this project, with the locomotives’ car-body shells manufactured in Wrocław. This is yet another example of how modern rolling stock supports the development of rail transport and helps build more sustainable supply chains.
