The freight subsidiary of FS Group, Polo Mercitalia, will invest EUR 427 million for the acquisition of new electric locomotives and freight wagons.
Under the plans, Mercitalia and TX Logistik will purchase 125 Traxx DC3/MS locomotives from Bombardier Transportation with a total investment of EUR 400 million. The first deliveries of the new locomotives are planned for the autumn of 2018. The locomotives’ features will enable Mercitalia and TX Logistik to increase trains’ capacity, while the regenerative braking system will allow the reduction of energy consumption. Under the contract, Bombardier will be responsible for the maintenance of locomotives in Italy and abroad for a period of 8 years, allowing Polo Mercitalia’s companies to improve their reliability and punctuality.
The second project involves the acquisition of 250 new wagons by CEMAT and Mercitalia Rail at a total cost of EUR 27 million. Greenbrier will supply 200 wagons for steel products transport that will be put into operation in the summer of 2018. 50 pocket wagons will be produced by Tatravagonka Poprad, a Slovakian manufacturer, and they will be used to enhance the transport of mega-semi-trailers. They will be put into operation in the first months of 2018.
The new 250 wagons will be equipped with telematic monitoring system consisting of self-powered sensors capable of communicating in real time the vehicle’s operation ensuring greater reliability and operational efficiency and safety. Thus, Polo Mercitalia will have one of the most technologically advanced wagons in Europe.
“These operations represent a very important part of the 2017-2026 Industrial Plan, which provides Polo Mercitalia a EUR 1.5 billion investment. We are implementing the freight transport revival programme established by the FS Italiane Group. Our goal is to use these locomotives and wagons on Italy’s Transalpine Corridor and in main European countries,” Marco Gosso, Mercitalia Logistics Managing Director said.
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