en.Wedoany.com Reported - Belgian rail freight operator Lineas and aluminum supplier Novelis have deployed two EURO9000 hybrid locomotives on strategic freight routes in Germany, expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1,762 metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually. The deployment was officially launched at a joint meeting in Göttingen, attended by teams from Lineas and Novelis, along with German Country Manager Manfred Burk.
Each EURO9000 locomotive uses electric traction on mainline routes and is equipped with two onboard diesel engines, each rated at 950 kW, for non-electrified tracks. Dynamic switching between electric and diesel modes can be performed while the train is in motion, eliminating the need to change locomotives on partially electrified corridors. According to Stadler data from 2023, the EURO9000 platform delivers up to 9 MW of power in electric mode, surpassing the Siemens Vectron dual-mode locomotive's maximum electric output of 2.8 MW and diesel output of 2.4 MW (Sources: Siemens, 2023; Stadler, 2023).
The two EURO9000 locomotives are expected to reduce emissions by 1,762 metric tonnes of CO₂e annually compared to previous operations. In diesel mode, each locomotive provides 1,900 kW of power through its two 950 kW engines. Lineas and Novelis have not publicly disclosed specific route details, describing them only as strategic freight routes in Germany. This deployment comes against a backdrop where, according to a Retail Gazette survey from 2026, 87% of UK businesses now prioritize emission reduction, up from 81% in 2024, putting efficiency pressure on the European logistics sector. Meanwhile, as reported by World Cargo News in 2026, DB Cargo plans to cut its domestic workforce by nearly half by 2030, reshaping the German rail freight landscape as the industry shifts toward leaner, more digitally capable competitors.
The Lineas and Novelis initiative represents a corridor-specific operational strategy, demonstrating the commercial viability of hybrid dual-mode traction on routes that are not yet fully electrified. As DB Cargo scales back its operations in Germany, independent operators investing in flexible traction are poised to capture market share on partially electrified industrial routes that demand reliability and low emissions.
