Rail Cargo Group (RCG), the freight division of ÖBB, has added a third EURODUAL locomotive to its TransFLEX fleet in Germany. It was officially handed over at transport logistic 2025.
The six-axle dual-mode locomotives, built by Stadler, combine electric and diesel traction, allowing continuous operation across electrified and non-electrified lines. This setup supports direct access to sidings without the need for separate shunting locomotives. The hybrid configuration targets short-notice and ad-hoc operations across a wide range of sectors, including chemical, automotive, and bulk materials.
TransFLEX, launched as a pilot project in 2022, was initially supported by two EURODUAL units. The current fleet has expanded to 20 locomotives. Personnel services and traction for these flexible movements are managed in cooperation with MEV. Services are available throughout Germany and now include routes to and from Austria. A direct TransFLEX link to Burghausen has been in operation since April 2025.
According to RCG, TransFLEX covered 1.87 million kilometers in 2024 and transported 2.25 million net tonnes. The dual-mode locomotives play a central role in enabling last-mile delivery to sidings without reliance on external diesel traction. The operating model is designed around spot bookings and rapid-response logistics, aimed at supplementing traditional scheduled freight services.
The EURODUAL locomotives used by RCG are leased from European Loc Pool under a long-term cooperation framework. The technical setup includes a 2.8 MW diesel engine combined with 6.15 MW electric traction, suitable for heavy freight trains across mixed infrastructure conditions.
RCG continues to integrate flexible traction options into its wider network across Germany and cross-border links. The expansion of TransFLEX comes with an adjusted operational model that combines private leasing with targeted traction resources to cover customer-specific logistics requirements.
