Rumo Receives Hybrid Locomotives for Cargo Transport in Brazil

Rumo’s Curitiba workshop has received two hybrid locomotives, which will be the first of their kind used in cargo transport operations in Brazil. The Progress Rail GT38H locomotives are powered by a Diesel-Electric system and a battery bank. This configuration enables the traction motors to be powered by either diesel engines or a battery bank. In the latter case, energy is regenerated during dynamic braking operation instead of dissipating heat through high-power resistors. The first composition drawn by these hybrid locomotives is currently being tested, and it is scheduled to depart from Cascavel to the Desvio Ribas railway station in the Ponta Grossa region.

One of the new locomotives’ highlights is their ability to have a lower environmental impact. The model is 22% more fuel-efficient than current models. Additionally, using batteries as an energy source increases efficiency by 15%. When combined with the advantages of a more modern engine, diesel consumption is expected to be reduced by up to 42%. Aside from lower fuel consumption, these locomotives are distinguished by lower emissions and excessive noise, resulting in a smaller environmental footprint. The new locomotives’ performance will be evaluated over a six-month period on the stretch between Guarapuava (PR) and the Desvio Ribas railway station in the Ponta Grossa (PR) region.

“The results presented by Progress have been positive, indicating significant gains for our operations,” notes Marcus Jorge, Director of Maintenance at Rumo. “With the operation on our network, we can evaluate performance considering the characteristics of the track and the transported cargo. This is an important process to assess the feasibility of expanding the use of locomotives using this system.”

New performance control and safety parameters have been implemented with the new hybrid technology, which can be remotely monitored to anticipate potential failures. The locomotive system automatically activates the batteries, matching the power the train driver requires for the section where it will operate.

“We are optimistic about this project designed in partnership with Progress and the technological advancements this locomotive can represent in terms of emission reduction and safety,” Marcus Jorge states. “Furthermore, once the expected performance is confirmed, these locomotives represent a significant step toward developing new machinery for even denser sections of our rail network that require greater power, such as the Malha Norte, the railway corridor between Rondonópolis (MT) and the Port of Santos (SP).”

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