Stadler Valencia and Renfe Mercancías, the Spanish rail freight operator, have unveiled the first four of 12 Euro 6000 electric locomotives which will operate through the 25 km Pajares Base Tunnel expected to be opened next year.
The new high-power electric locomotives were presented during a visit of the president of Renfe Operadora, Isaías Táboas, accompanied by the president of Stadler Valencia, Iñigo Parra, at Stadler’s factory in Albuixech, Valencia.
The multi-system locomotives are designed to operate on Iberian gauge and are able to haul 1,800 tonne trains and to deliver better and high-capacity transport services. The tri-voltage locomotives are operating in 25 kV AC, 3kV DC and 1.5 kV DC options. One of the main characteristics of the new electric locomotives is that they will not generate CO2 emissions as they will run powered by 100% renewable electric energy. In addition to their friendly environmental features, the new locomotives generate a low level of internal and external noise.
The remaining six Euro 6000 locomotives, part of the Eurodual family, will be delivered by the end of this year. Renfe and Stadler signed the contract in august 2021 for the supply of 12 high-power Euro 6000 electric locomotives which are currently the most powerful locomotives used in Spain.
With the acquisition of these new units, which will mean greater load capacity and better levels of reliability, Renfe Mercancías intends to increase its activity and its share in rail transport. The increase in the activity of the operator, would also entail significant cost savings due to externalities, since, as recognised by the European Commission, the railway is the mode of freight transport that generates the least polluting emissions.
In 2020, the transport carried out by Renfe Mercancías represented savings of EUR 291 million in external costs and avoided the release of 850,000 tonnes of CO2 and the consumption of 425,000 equivalent tonnes of oil.
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