SPAIN: RENFE Mercancías has ordered 12 Euro 6000 high-power electric locomotives from Stadler Valencia to haul freight trains over the steeply graded Pajares pass and through the base tunnel now nearing completion.
Valued at €70·7m, the 41-month contract placed on July 28 also includes the initial storage of spare parts. Rated at 6 MW, the Euro 6000s will be the most powerful locomotives in Spain, and are expected to haul trailing loads of up to 1 800 tonnes.
The deal is the first instance of RENFE Mercancías ordering locomotives from Stadler, although the Albuixech plant had regularly supplied locomotives to the national operator under previous ownership.
The firm order follows on from RENFE awarding consultancy Ineco a €16m, 30-day contract on June 3 for ‘services of support and evaluation of technical data’ for the future purchase of 25 kV 50 Hz locomotives to operate over the Variante de Pajares.
RENFE will become the second operator of the Euro 6000 design in Spain after Captrain España, which in July 2020 signed a framework contract with Alpha Trains for the lease of 21 locos. Of these, six would be 1 668 mm gauge for use on lines electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz, such as the Variante de Pajares. Deliveries are expected to start during the second half of 2021.
