The transalpine line for cross-border freight transport is strengthened with 6 new state-of-the-art locomotives, homologated for rail transport in 12 European countries, including Italy, Austria, and Germany.
The locomotives, whose purchase by Rail Traction Company and Inrail – as learned from a note by the financial institution – was financed by Volksbank, will in fact be employed via the Brenner Pass, one of the principal railway lines for freight transport across the Alps. The locomotives have a maximum power of 6.4 megawatts and reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h, with advanced safety systems.
“We are pleased to be able to sign this financing today, which allows Volksbank to provide further support for environmentally friendly mobility. It is a highly valuable investment for the territory and for cross-border rail transport, which will benefit from 6 new electric locomotives, which will help shift part of the freight traffic from road to rail, with a consequent decrease in CO2 emissions. With this investment, a symbol of a forward-looking public-private agreement, Volksbank confirms its role as a strategic partner for sustainable and innovative mobility,” stated Alberto Naef, General Director of Volksbank.
“In a complex market like the railway one, the possibility of investing in state-of-the-art locomotives capable of operating in many European countries allows us to increase our operational capacity, improve service reliability, and respond with greater flexibility to customer needs. It is a strategic investment that looks to the long term and strengthens our commitment to an increasingly efficient, sustainable, and competitive rail transport on a European scale,” added Martin Ausserdorfer, CEO of /Inrail.
“Ours is a capital-intensive sector – concluded Astrid Kofler, President of Rtc – and being able to count on the support of a solid and forward-looking financial partner makes the difference. We thank Volksbank for having believed in our project by financing the purchase of these 6 latest-generation Vectron locomotives, an operation that allows us to support growth and look to the future with ambition.”
