Eurotunnel and Alstom conducting dynamic tests on Prima II locomotive in the Channel Tunnel

Given that the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI, STIs) have applied since early 2012 to freight trains travelling through the Channel Tunnel, the Eurotunnel Group and Alstom held tests during the night of September 29th to 30th with Alstom's new generation of Prima II locomotives in order to validate its compatibility with Channel Tunnel systems and security standards.

For this first-time event, Alstom's Prima II locomotive, set in a standard configuration and pulling cars with a total load of 950T, entered the Tunnel from the French side at 10:20 pm and proceeded to perform traction, braking and pantograph tests. After exiting on the Folkestone side, the train turned around and headed back towards France for a second experimental phase lasting from 3:00 to 5:00 am.

This is part of Eurotunnel's determination to foster the development of "standard" rail freight traffic between Great Britain and the continent, which means having the possibility of not having to use specific Class 92 locomotives.
Those successful tests, as well as being yet another key step in Prima II's history, demonstrate Alstom's ability to resolve one of freight's major issues, namely interoperability, thanks to its new generation of locomotives, which are compatible with ERTMS and ETCS systems and able to travel using four different voltages (25 kV, 15 kV, 1,500 V and 3,000 V). Prima II can travel in every European freight corridor.

About Eurotunnel:
Eurotunnel (Euronext Paris: GET, and London Stock Exchange: GETS) manages the Channel Tunnel infrastructure and operates two kinds of shuttles, namely freight shuttles for lorries and passenger shuttles devoted to cars and buses, travelling between Coquelles (France) and Folkestone (Great Britain). Eurotunnel holds the Channel Tunnel concession until 2086, operating the fastest, simplest, most reliable and most environmentally-friendly transport system to cross the Strait of Dover. Over the past 18 years, more than 284 million travellers have used the Tunnel. This unique terrestrial route has become a vital link between the United Kingdom and the continent. Eurotunnel also runs a railway freight business through its Europorte subsidiary, which provides a wide range of integrated railway freight services.
http://www.eurotunnelgroup.com

About Europorte:
As France's first private operator to get a license (in 2004) to develop railway services throughout the European Union, Europorte, a fully-owned Eurotunnel Group subsidiary specialising in railway freight, is well established within the French and British networks. Employing over 1,000 people, Europorte provides bespoke solutions to industrialists through its integrated offers involving the entire range of freight trades: from national and international traction to logistics, and from local services to junction management, not to mention railway operator local assignments.
www.europorte.com