Wabtec Signs Agreements With CBH Group, Politecnico di Torino
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Australian cooperative CBH Group has entered into an agreement with Wabtec to acquire 17 narrow-gauge locomotives. (Wabtec Photograph)
Wabtec Corporation has landed a narrow-guage locomotive order from Australian cooperative CBH Group and is teaming with Politecnico di Torino in Italy on research, innovation and education projects.
On June 30, Wabtec reported that it will supply 17 CM20ACi dual-cab, diesel-electric locomotives to CBH Group, following a competitive Request for Proposal process, one of three the cooperative launched in second-half 2022 (the others were for standard-gauge locomotives and railcars). The first five CM20ACi units will be delivered in March 2026, with the remainder arriving in June 2026.
The agreement with Wabtec will grow CBH Group’s narrow-gauge locomotive fleet to 37, according to Ben Macnamara, CEO of the cooperative, which is owned and controlled by approximately 3,500 Western Australian grain growing businesses. “[E]xpanding our existing trainsets is a strategic priority that is critical for us to achieve CBH’s ‘Path to 2033’ strategy that aims to lift our monthly export capacity to 3 million tons by 2033 or sooner,” he said. “Expanding our narrow-gauge locomotive fleet, in conjunction with the expansion of our standard-gauge locomotive fleet, is a significant step to enhance our outloading capability.”
Wabtec President of Freight Equipment Rogerio Mendonca noted that the CM20ACi units “will provide CBH with low operational costs, high availability and proven reliability needed to succeed in today’s competitive market.”
Separately, on June 28 Wabtec reported signing a three-year agreement with Politecnico di Torino (Polytechnic University), which educates professionals in the fields of engineering, architecture, design and spatial planning. The partnership will allow faculty, researchers and professionals to collaborate on projects “with a special focus on creating solutions for increasingly sustainable mobility.” Additionally, it will provide students with access to internship programs, workshops, seminars and other training initiatives, according to the supplier.
“Wabtec is excited to participate in creating real opportunities for young engineers to grow in the rail sector,” said Paolo Pagliero, Group Vice President, Engineering for Wabtec Transit. “We want to convey all our focus on environmental sustainability and provide our experience to shape the future of the rail industry. The geographical proximity between Wabtec Italia and the Polytechnic is an incredible opportunity to be exploited to create and grow a collaboration between two entities that are so important for the area and the future of the new generations.”
“The rail transportation sector is historically strategic in many areas of Piedmont [Italy], so the synergy with Wabtec will be crucial and will enable our students to easily respond to the demands of the job market and to fit into even international contexts with excellent opportunities for growth,” Politecnico di Torino Chancellor Guido Saracco said.
