Germany: The rolling stock manufacturer and the mining company have announced their collaboration at InnoTrans 2024 in Berlin.
The project’s technical details are kept secret. The future locomotive will reportedly be operated by mining companies on their ore railway lines. While attending the exhibition, specialists from NIIAS, Russian Railways’ research institute, learnt from Downer’s representatives that the locomotive’s entering the market is planned for 2027. Additionally, the new vehicle could also become a platform for similar passenger solutions and other freight applications.
Rendering of the future locomotive from Downer and Fortescue. Source: Downer
In 2023, Downer together with ABB, Switzerland, announced their developing a hybrid locomotive with catenary, battery, and diesel traction. However, there is no information how the project is progressing and whether it has any correlation to the new one, announced at InnoTrans this year.
Earlier, Fortescue ordered the battery EMD Joule locomotives from Progress Rail, USA.
