Wabtec Corporation has landed its third Class I locomotive order in roughly as many months; this time from CSX. The Jacksonville, Fla.-based railroad on Feb. 9 reported signing a $670 million deal with Wabtec to provide 100 new Evolution Series units, to modernize 50 aging D9s by converting them from DC to AC traction, and to equip all of the locomotives with Trip Optimizer with Smart Horsepower per Ton, which is described as “an EPA-certified system intended to support fuel efficiency.”
Delivery of the new Evolution Series locomotives is expected to begin this year, with deliveries of the modernized locomotives starting in 2027.
According to CSX, the Evolution Series units will support its fleet “by improving fuel efficiency, tractive effort, and overall reliability,” as they are “designed to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining performance for long-haul and heavy-duty operations.” Additionally, the modernization of the D9s will “extend service life, improve fleet standardization, and enable the use of advanced control and diagnostic technologies, with expected improvements in fuel efficiency, tractive effort, and reliability,” it said.
“Our locomotive fleet is a fundamental element of our safe and reliable railroad,” CSX Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Cory said. “Modernizing these critical assets strengthens network performance and supports the level of service our customers depend on.”
“CSX’s fleet modernization initiative underscores its strong commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and delivering reliable customer service,” added Rogerio Mendonca, President, Freight Equipment at Wabtec. “Our unique partnership supports CSX’s strategic approach to long-term fleet planning. By combining new and modernized locomotives with our industry-proven digital solutions, we expect to continue supporting improvements in fuel performance, operational efficiency, and reliability across CSX’s rail operations.”
CSX in 2024 extended its AC4400 modernization program with Wabtec to give the remaining 200-plus locomotives in its 460-plus unit fleet improved fuel efficiency, reliability, utilization and tractive effort. The contract added to the 260 modernizations that CSX previously ordered. The railroad also selected Wabtec in 2021 to revitalize its yard fleet using the supplier’s Tier 4 switcher modernization program, which upgrades 40- to 50-year-old locomotives and Tier 0 non-emissions switchers to the Wabtec Tier 4 platform.
Separately, Union Pacific on Feb. 4 announced signing a $1.2 billion agreement with Wabtec in fourth-quarter 2025 for the modernization of UP AC4400 locomotives with deliveries expected to begin in 2027, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Norfolk Southern last month announced acquisitions of new Tier 4-compliant road units from Wabtec and Progress Rail.
