thumb|Alstom Prima II on display at [[InnoTrans 2014 in Berlin]]

Prima is a family of railway diesel and electric locomotives built by Alstom. Manufacture of the type commenced in the late 1990s. By 2008, Alstom had reportedly sold 1,750 Prima locomotives. The second generation Prima II was launched in 2009.

;Electric locomotives

  • SNCF Class BB 27000
  • SNCF Class BB 27300
  • SNCF Class BB 37000
  • SNCF Class BB 47000
  • China Railways HXD2
  • Belarusian Railway BCG-1

;Diesel locomotives

  • Alstom Prima diesel locomotives

Second generation

thumb|[[ONCF|ONCFM E 1400 locomotive, a variant of the second-generation Prima model]]

On 20 May 2008, Alstom announced the details of a second generation of Prima locomotives, named "Prima II". The locomotives are designed to be modular and reconfigurable to suit customers requirements throughout their lifetimes. Electric versions can work with up to four different overhead line voltages; 1.5 Kv and 3 kV DC, as well as 15 KV and 25 kV AC; it possesses power ratings of up to , and operating speeds of .

The design also accommodates for broader gauge versions, suitable for use in Russia, India and Finland, which have been reportedly viewed by Alstom's sales department as potential markets for the Prima II. A diesel version is also planned in the long term.

The first order for the second generation Prima II came from Morocco's national railway ONCFM, with an order in November 2007 for twenty electric locomotives. These are due to be delivered in the second half of 2009 for entry into passenger and freight service in 2010. The Moroccan locomotives are to be initially delivered for 3 kV DC operation, with the potential to install a transformer and other electrical equipment for 25 kV AC operation at a later date when Moroccan electrification upgrade schemes take place.

During November 2015, Alstom received a Letter of Award from the Ministry of Indian Railways to supply Indian Railways with 800 double section freight electric locomotives in class WAG-12, along with associated long-term maintenance. The total contract, which is worth in excess of €3 billion, shall also involve the establishment of a new assembly plant at Madhepura, in Bihar, as well as two maintenance depots at Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh and Nagpur, Maharashtra. The Prima locomotive for Indian Railways will be at the wheel rim and will run at a speed up to 120 km/h.

;Electric locomotives

  • ONCFM E 1400
  • Indian locomotive class WAG-12
  • AZ4A
  • Alstom KZ8A
  • EP20

Prima H3

During August 2013, Alstom announced that it had launched development of the H3 diesel/battery hybrid locomotive. Financing for the project includes €600,000 ($653,560 approximately) from the State of Bavaria. It was first publicly unveiled at InnoTrans 2014 in Berlin. Alstom's Stendal site in Scaxony-Anhalt, Germany, is responsible for manufacturing the locomotives. These speeds allow the type to operate within short-distance mainline traffic without causing undue disruption. Several different models have been developed, including the H3 Battery 600 kW electric locomotive, the H3 Hybrid 700 kW hybrid locomotive, the H3 Dual Engine 700 kW dual engine locomotive, and the H3 Single Engine 1,000 kW single-engine locomotive. In addition to Deutsche Bahn, several industrial users have also adopted the H3 in small numbers. Reportedly, by April 2017, a total of 19 Prima H3 hybrid locomotives are in service with Deutsche Bahn, Volkswagen, Audi, InfraLeuna, Mitteldeutsche Eisenbahn and Chemion Logistik.

Operators

;Prima

  • China Railway
  • SNCF and STIF (France)
  • Israel Railways

;Prima II

  • ONCFM (Morocco)
  • Indian Railways
  • Azerbaijan Railways
  • Kazakhstan Temir Zholy

References

Notes

Citations

Further information

  • Locomotive Bogie classification system CoCo and BoBo Technical sheet with special reference to Prima CoCo and BoBo models alstom.com
  • Prima II official site (English) flash presentation, alstom.com
  • Specification sheet for the ONCF E1400 Prima II locomotive; French