Lineas and Akiem have renewed their locomotive leasing agreement for another four-year term.
Contract covers PRIMA BB27000, BB37000, and BB75000
The renewed agreement includes the lease of Prima BB27000 and BB37000 electric locomotives, as well as BB75000 diesel units, all originally developed by Alstom. Compared to the 32 locomotives leased in 2024, the 2025 extension increases the total to 39 locomotives. These locomotives will be deployed mainly on the French rail network, where Lineas operates domestic and international freight services.
The diesel-electric BB75000 units are equipped for operations on non-electrified routes, while the BB27000 and BB37000 series are designed for freight transport on electrified lines under 25 kV and 1.5 kV catenary systems. All locomotives are leased through Akiem’s long-term lease offering.
Multi-year commitment runs through 2030
The new contract spans four years and extends until 2030. The arrangement supports Lineas’ operational capacity with a dedicated fleet tailored to its traction needs, especially across mixed-traction corridors in France and beyond.
Akiem currently manages a fleet of more than 750 locomotives and provides maintenance and overhaul services across its European depot network. The company’s offering includes interoperable and national fleet types across electric and diesel traction.
Context of projected freight growth
According to European estimates, freight transport volumes are expected to grow by 30% by 2030. In this context, modal shift to rail has been identified as one of the methods to address traffic congestion and reduce the environmental impact of logistics chains. The Akiem-Lineas agreement is aligned with this shift in transport policy, providing traction capacity for cross-border and domestic freight flows.
