Alstom equips 13 freight locomotives of DB Cargo with the latest ETCS signalling standard

Trains to run smoothly, safely and reliably between Germany, Denmark and Sweden

Berlin, 26. January 2021 – Alstom will equip a total of 13 freight locomotives for DB Cargo with the latest ETCS signalling technology standard (ETCS Baseline 3 Release 2) for trans-European freight traffic between Germany, Denmark and Sweden.

"We are pleased to be making a significant contribution to the digitalisation of trans-European freight transport by retrofitting the locomotives," says Frederic Rybicki, Managing Director Alstom Digital Mobility Germany & Austria. "Rail freight transport plays a crucial role in the mobility turnaround - this is where our digital solutions come into perfect play."

"By equipping our powerful EG 3100 series locomotives with ETCS equipment, we will also be able to offer climate-friendly, cross-border transport services for our customers in the future," says Ralf Günter Kloß, Member of the Management Board for Production at DB Cargo.

The electric freight locomotives of the EG3100 series will be equipped with Alstom's Atlas ETCS Baseline 3 Release 2 solution. This complies with the latest European standards for rail interoperability and enables trains to run smoothly, safely and reliably even on routes across national borders. As part of the order, the existing German and Danish systems will be upgraded to communicate with the ETCS signalling system. In addition, the Swedish system will be integrated as software into the new ETCS hardware. First certification runs with a retrofitted prototype are scheduled for the end of 2022. This will be followed by the gradual retrofitting and approval of the remaining freight locomotives.

ETCS is the most efficient train control system in the world, delivering significant benefits in terms of maintenance cost savings, safety, reliability, punctuality and traffic capacity. Alstom is the first company in the world to be fully certified for the latest on-board and trackside ETCS standards. The latest software development ensures interoperability with Baseline 3 Release 2 for the entire rail system.