On 17 June, Australian manufacturer UGL unveiled its new Evolution ("Evo") C94 locomotive at its Broadmeadow plant in Newcastle, Australia. The unit, developed jointly with Wabtec Corporation, is intended for long-distance freight operations under Australian conditions.
Pacific National, Australia's largest private freight rail operator, will integrate these new locomotives into its fleet to support its decarbonization strategy. The Evo locomotive is designed specifically for long-haul container services, transporting trains measuring between 1,500 and 1,800 metres across the continent, including routes connecting Western Australia to the East Coast and along the Eastern seaboard.
UGL's partnership with Wabtec Corporation has spanned over six decades, with Wabtec technology incorporated into UGL’s locally produced locomotives. Manufacturing operations for these locomotives remain based at UGL’s Broadmeadow facility, which has been producing rolling stock in the Newcastle and Hunter regions since its founding by Alfred Goninan in 1899.