First five Traxx Passenger electric locomotives arrive for Romania's CFR Călători

Romania's national railway operator, CFR Călători, has welcomed the first five of 16 new Traxx Passenger electric locomotives ordered from Alstom. These modern units, identified as LE 02, 03, 04, 06, and 07, were received by the Authority for Railway Reform (ARF) and Alstom representatives, marking a significant step in the modernization of the country's rail fleet.

The new locomotives are designed for speeds up to 160 km/h and can haul trains of up to 16 carriages, making them suitable for long and busy interregional routes. Once they complete European Vehicle Register inscription and CFR Călători's safety certification, they will be deployed on key lines. These include routes connecting Dej, Brașov, Bucharest, and Constanța; Timișoara, Arad, Brașov, Bucharest, and Constanța; Timișoara, Cluj-Napoca, and Iași; Iași, Bucharest, and Constanța; and Suceava, Bucharest, and Constanța.

This initiative aims to replace older, less efficient electric locomotives, contributing to a more environmentally friendly and efficient rail transport system. The Traxx Passenger locomotives are equipped with advanced control and diagnostic systems, GPS, modern communication technologies, and the European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS), facilitating seamless integration into the European rail network. A notable feature is their energy recovery system during braking, which reduces consumption and enhances operational efficiency.

The total project value is approximately 441.78 million lei (about 89.36 million euros), with full funding provided by the Modernization Fund. The project, initially part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, will be implemented over 31 months, concluding by August 31, 2026. The introduction of these 16 new locomotives is expected to significantly improve service quality and operational performance for CFR Călători.