SPAIN: Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya has put into service the first two of five Class 257 metre gauge electro-diesel freight locos ordered from Stadler to replace its Class 254 diesels.
The €30·2m contract for the 20 m long, 3 900 mm high, 90 tonne six-axle locos was awarded in 2019.
They will be used to haul potash from ICL’s Súria mines and cars from the SEAT factory in Martorell to the port of Barcelona.
The ability to haul longer trains and use the 1·5 kV DC electrification between Manresa, Martorell and Sant Boi and the 950 kW diesel engine elsewhere is expected to reduce diesel consumption by between 57% and 66% and overall emissions by 66%.
