Traxx Shunter locomotives: The flexible shunting locomotive platform

Traxx Shunter at a glance
Based on a modular platform, Traxx Shunter™ offers a portfolio of locomotives excelling both in performance, flexibility and energy efficiency. Alstom’s shunting locomotives are designed to support operators in a wide range of applications including shunting, light to heavy trackwork, short-distance mainline, terminal, rescue and harbour operations.
The Traxx Shunter platform ensures compatibility with all four common catenary voltages and offers the possibility of alternative power sources: catenary operation with either battery or diesel as second power source, and hydrogen with battery operation. Most power sources available with Traxx Shunter enable zero direct emission, while the diesel version enables operation with HVO or Biodiesel to ensure lower carbon footprint. Traxx Shunter locomotives allow seamless changes between the various traction modes, maintaining high tractive effort. Alstom’s continuous investments in green power sources and efficiency allow for substantial reductions in energy consumption, noise, NOx, and CO2 emissions, e.g. around 6,000 tonnes/year at SBB Cargo.
An advantage of Traxx Shunter is the possibility to offer flexibility while still benefitting from being a product platform, where synergies in terms of spare parts, training, maintenance and reliability are a plus. Locomotives can be equipped to cope with various power sources, different catenary voltages. They can also come in different weight options – from 80 to 90 t respectively 20 to 22.5 t axle load – to either pull more load or access side lines limited to 80 tons. Furthermore, Traxx Shunter is compatible with Alstom’s leading Atlas™ modular ETCS system and a wide selection of national signalling systems where required.
With a peak power of up to 2.5 MW, Traxx Shunter is designed to operate safely at speeds of up 120 km/h, when most conventional shunting locomotives usually run at 80 km/h. This means that Alstom’s shunting locomotives can be more easily integrated into rail traffic for mainline services. Additionally, its tractive effort of up to 300 kN provides the possibility to tow more wagons and still accelerate in curves or hilly areas due to its sophisticated adhesion control.
Alstom’s shunting locomotives are equipped with a central cab which provides sufficient space for the driver and additional people, as well as good visibility for easy manoeuvering. The driver’s cab is accessible via front or back entries using gangways and offers several cameras and comfortable platforms for shunting operation at each end.
Traxx Shunter is supported by Alstom’s long-standing expertise in the optimisation of total cost of ownership. Equipped with TrainTracer, part of Alstom’s digital solution for condition-based and predictive maintenance, HealthHub™, these locomotives allow further savings on maintenance costs and optimised operational management. In addition, Alstom’s locomotives benefit from a central services centre for first-rate customer support at all times.
Gauge |
1435 mm |
Axle load |
21t |
Main propulsion |
Electric AC |
Secondary propulsion |
Diesel/Battery/Hydrogen |
Power |
Up to 2.5 MW |
Tractive effort |
Up to 300 kN |
Operating speed |
120 km/h |