On September 26, 2024, Swiss Federal Railways (FFS) announced a significant renewal of its mainline locomotive fleet. The contract with Stadler Rail includes the purchase of up to 129 locomotives, with the first deliveries set for the autumn of 2027, and the entire delivery process expected to be completed by 2035. Initially, 36 locomotives will be delivered, with an option to acquire an additional 93 units.
Stadler Rail has designed these locomotives with a focus on improving energy efficiency and reducing operational costs. The selected model is a technologically advanced four-axle locomotive that offers superior performance compared to the current vehicles in use. A noteworthy feature is the "last mile module," a battery-powered traction system installed in 22 of the 36 units in the first batch, which allows operation on tracks without electric lines, eliminating the need for shunting locomotives for the final stretch of transport.
The new locomotives can haul up to a third more load compared to the Re420 model currently used by FFS Cargo. In addition to enhanced performance, the new vehicles significantly reduce energy consumption and meet all technical specifications required for the introduction of digital automatic coupling, an essential component for the future digitalization of rail freight transport.
"Rail freight is the backbone of national supply and the Swiss economy, and these new locomotives represent a decisive step forward," said Alexander Muhm, head of FFS Cargo. Muhm emphasized that these new machines will play a crucial role in automating rail operations, making them more efficient and providing a solid economic foundation for the future of rail freight.
This fleet renewal is part of a long-term strategy to standardize the entire vehicle fleet by 2050. Currently, FFS Cargo operates approximately 200 locomotives across five different types. With this new plan, the company aims to streamline operations by using a single type of locomotive for mainline duties and three models of standard freight cars. According to the company, this process, combined with increased maintenance efficiency of the new vehicles, is expected to reduce operational costs by about 60%.
