FRANCE; GERMANY —Alstom and Northrail have entered a framework agreement for up to 100 Traxx Shunter locomotives, establishing a new fleet renewal programme for shunting and related rail operations. The initial firm order covers locomotives with pantograph and diesel propulsion together with 10 years of maintenance services, with a value of just under €100 million. The units are intended for deployment in Germany.
Production will take place at Alstom’s Belfort facility in France, with deliveries scheduled to start from the end of 2029. The wider framework could reach €700 million if additional locomotive options and extended maintenance services are activated. The agreement also provides for potential deployment of additional units in France and maintenance coverage of up to 20 years.
The Traxx Shunter programme addresses a segment of European rail operations where operators require locomotives capable of moving freight and performing yard and track-related duties while also operating on mainline networks. The selected pantograph-diesel configuration is designed for medium- to heavy-duty shunting and can use conventional diesel as well as HVO or biodiesel. The locomotive is specified for speeds of up to 120 km/h and can haul longer and heavier wagon formations.
For railway operators, the fleet configuration creates a potential route to replacing ageing shunting equipment while retaining operational flexibility across yards, maintenance activities and mainline movements. The ability to combine different energy sources also provides scope for operators to adapt propulsion choices as fuel and decarbonisation requirements evolve. The platform can subsequently support further energy-system changes, providing a modular basis for fleet investment.
The locomotives will incorporate Alstom’s Onvia ETCS system and can accommodate national signalling requirements where needed, supporting integration into different railway operating environments. Lifecycle support will include digital condition-based and predictive maintenance through HealthHub, alongside Alstom’s maintenance network. This is intended to support fleet availability and maintenance planning over the operating life of the assets.
The agreement is significant for the European rolling stock market because it links locomotive manufacturing, leasing and long-term maintenance in a single fleet programme. Northrail, a European rolling stock leasing company, is using the framework to expand its locomotive portfolio, while Alstom gains a defined production pipeline for its next-generation shunting platform. The potential expansion to France and longer maintenance periods could also increase the programme’s commercial scope beyond the initial German deployment.
