FRENCH National Railways has ordered a further 180 Prima electric freight locos from Alstom, with an option for another 120. As with the existing order for 120, the locos will be split between dual-system Class 427000 (25 kV 50Hz/1·5 kV DC) and three-system variants: Class 437000 with 15 kV 162/3 Hz, and Class 437500 with 3 kV DC. The first series-built locos were delivered in early June, and the latest batch will extend production until 2007.
The first of six Vossloh G1206 series diesel locos being leased by Fret SNCF from Locomotion Capital was delivered to Strasbourg on June 2; they are equipped to operate in both France and Germany. With a further order for 124 diesels to be placed shortly, Fret SNCF expects to be taking delivery of eight new locos a month in 2003-07.
At the end of June, SNCF ordered a further 100 ATER Class X73500 single-car diesel railcars from Alstom for €135m. It also exercised an €85m option for 12 more double-deck EMUs for Paris RER Line C which was included in the January 1999 contract with Alstom and Bombardier for 32 four-car sets.
