Stadler has signed a contract to supply VIA Rail Canada with a set of 45 brand-new hybrid locomotives, marking the company’s first locomotive order in Canada.
The contract also includes the provision of 20-year Technical Support, as well as a Spare Supply Agreement (TSSSA).
Once supplied, the new fleet will support VIA Rail’s Long-Distance, Regional and Remote Rail (LDRR) programme, and contribute to both the modernisation and decarbonisation of passenger rail services across the country.
Designed to operate in Canadian climates (including temperatures as low as -50°C); the new locomotives aim to combine diesel-electric technology with a battery-assisted traction system, allowing for improvements in operational performance, reductions in fuel consumption and emissions, and the delivery of a more sustainable travel experience.
Each locomotive will be equipped with traction battery modules that supply energy for onboard auxiliary systems, head-end power requirements and traction, and, by combining battery power with the diesel engine, the vehicles will be capable of delivering up to 4 MW of power at the wheel, a starting tractive effort of 350 kN and a maximum operating speed of up to 160 km/h.
The hybrid architecture encourages and enabled the recovery and storage of braking energy in the vehicle’s batteries, improving energy efficiency whilst reducing fuel consumption and maintenance requirements. By combining battery-assisted traction with optimised diesel engine operation, the locomotives will seek to lower greenhouse gas emissions whilst supporting VIA Rail’s wider decarbonisation objectives.
Whilst at stations and other environmentally sensitive areas, the locomotives are capable of operating in battery mode, reducing both noise and exhaust emissions. In addition to supporting peak power demands, the hybrid battery system also allows the locomotive to continue operating and reach a safe location in the event of a diesel powertrain failure.
The new fleet has been designed with sustainability at the forefront of development, and features recyclability rates above 92% and recoverability rates exceeding 95%. The battery system has also been designed for long service life and second-life applications, supporting VIA Rail’s decarbonisation ambitions.
Developed to operate across Canada’s varying geography and demanding climate, the design of the locomotives builds on Stadler’s current designs previously deployed for over a decade in countries such as Sweden and Norway, where they have demonstrated reliable performance in harsh winter conditions.
Iñigo Parra, Executive Vice-President Division Spain, said:Our hybrid locomotive platform combines performance, reliability and sustainability.
By integrating battery-assisted operation into a powerful long-distance locomotive, we are providing VIA Rail with a future-oriented solution that supports its environmental objectives while enhancing operational flexibility and passenger service.
Design, manufacture and delivery of the new fleet will be organised and handled by Stadler Valencia at the company’s Albuixech facility, which is home to over 500 engineers dedicated to vehicle design and development.
Whilst Stadler will retain full project responsibility, part of the locomotive assembly, as well as testing and commissioning activities, will be carried out in Canada.
