TRIESTE – The Euro9000 hybrid multisystem locomotive has entered operational testing on the Brenner corridor after approval to operate in Italy. The trials have been launched by Rail Traction Company together with European Loc Pool.
The tests along one of Europe’s main rail freight axes between Germany, Austria and Italy are part of the locomotive’s practical homologation process and aim to verify the performance of the Euro9000 in heavy freight operations along the Brenner and on the Domodossola-Switzerland route. The objective is to increase international interoperability and improve the efficiency of cross-border rail transport.
According to RTC, one of the most relevant aspects concerns the future possibility of operating international services without locomotive changes along the route. Thanks to its multisystem characteristics, the Euro9000 can operate on the railway networks of Germany, Austria, the Benelux countries and Italy.
«We believe that technical development must continue constantly», said RTC managing director Martin Ausserdorfer, stressing that the locomotive could represent «a significant improvement in operational efficiency», especially along the Brenner corridor.
The South Tyrolean company also wants to verify the possibility of replacing some operations currently carried out with double traction. The Euro9000 will have to demonstrate whether heavy trains can be hauled using a single locomotive.
The locomotive, developed by Stadler, has power of up to 9 MW in electric mode and 1.9 MW in diesel mode, with tractive effort of up to 500 kN. One of its distinctive features is the integrated diesel module, which allows it to operate also on non-electrified sections, in shunting operations and for the so-called “last mile”, avoiding the need for additional locomotives.
