PARIBUS Rail Investment Management has ordered up to 50 zero-emissions locomotives on behalf of RIVE Private Investment in a framework agreement with Vossloh Locomotives parent CRRC Zelc.

CRRC Zelc will build the locomotives at the former Vossloh Locomotives plant in Kiel, Germany. The battery-electric dual-mode locomotives, DM 20-EBB, are initially designed for use in Germany and the Netherlands and are based on the DM 20 platform which can accommodate different drive modules.

The new locomotives can either use overhead wires for power, or an on-board battery. The latter has capacity for 350kWh and has a 500kW output. When operating on electric power, the locomotives offer 2.5MW output in ac mode and 1.5MW in dc mode.

The contract also includes a full-service maintenance agreement. Northrail, owned by Paribus, will handle the asset management and leasing of the locomotives.

The first locomotives are due for delivery in mid-2024.

“ The very high average age of over 40 years for the current fleet of shunting and medium distance mainline locomotives in the target market will ensure a considerable demand for replacements over the medium term,” says Mr Michael Trentzsch, Paribus managing director.

Port of Rotterdam

Rail Innovators Group and Port of Rotterdam Authority have also ordered DM20-EBB locomotives from CRRC and revealed further details of the order on June 23.

RIG says its Rail Force One operations will be put the first locomotives into traffic at the port of Rotterdam in 2024.

“By using CRRC zero-emission technology and powering it with green electricity, we invest in becoming the frontrunner in environment-friendly railway operations with zero emission, end-to-end,” says Mr Julian Remie, CEO Rail Innovators Group.