New Zealand DM class locomotive

Type of diesel-electric locomotives being manufactured for KiwiRail

Not to be confused with New Zealand DM class electric multiple unit.

New Zealand DM class locomotive

Arrival of first locomotive in New Zealand (Lyttelton), 19 October 2024

| Type and origin

Power type| Diesel-electric
Builder| Stadler Rail, Valencia
| Specifications

Configuration:
| ​
• UIC| Co′Co′
Gauge| 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Length| 20.002 metres (65.62 ft) [1]
Width| 2.810 metres (9 ft 2.6 in) [1]
Loco weight| < 108t [1]
Fuel type| Diesel, HVO [1]
Fuel capacity| 6,500 litres (1,400 imp gal; 1,700 US gal) [1]
Prime mover| Caterpillar C175-16, Stage V [1]
Engine type| diesel engine
Loco brake| Pneumatic; Dynamic: rheostatic; Bail-off feature [1]
| Performance figures

Maximum speed| 100 km/h (62 mph) [1]
Power output| 3,000 kilowatts (4,000 hp)
Tractive effort| 415 kN (93,000 lbf)
| Career

Number in class| 66
Delivered| 2 as of October 2024[2]
Current owner| KiwiRail

The New Zealand DM class[nb 1] of 66[1][4] diesel-electric locomotives are currently under manufacture for New Zealand rail operator KiwiRail by Stadler Rail in Spain. The locomotives are expected to be introduced between 2025 and 2026.[2] The first two locomotives arrived in October 2024 to commence testing and commissioning.

## Background

[edit]

Model of a DM class locomotive

In March 2020, KiwiRail released a tender for new mainline locomotives to replace the 47-strong DX class,[5] which were nearly 50 years old at the time. The 2021 New Zealand budget allocated NZD$722.7 million to purchase new mainline locomotives, shunt locomotives and wagons.[6]

On 11 October 2021, Stadler Rail announced it had won the contract to supply 57 new locomotives for KiwiRail.[7] Stadler stated the contract was worth €228 million,[7] or NZD$403 million.[2][8] The Rail & Maritime Transport Union, the main union representing KiwiRail staff, welcomed the purchase.[9] The company had previously won a contract to supply 34 similar locomotives to the Taiwan Railway Administration in 2019.[10][11]

In February 2024, KiwiRail and Stadler announced an order for a further nine DM class locomotives equipped with European Train Control System (ETCS) technology for deployment on the North Island rail network.[4] The last ten locomotives from the first order will also be fitted with ETCS, bringing the total number of ETCS-fitted DM class locomotives in the North Island to 19. ETCS will enable the locomotives to operate in the Auckland metro area, which is fitted with ETCS Level 1 signalling, and future proofs the class to safely operate in the Wellington metro area once trackside signalling there is upgraded to ETCS.

### Classification and numbering

[edit]

KiwiRail has stated the locomotives will be classified as class "DM".[3] The original impression of the design showed the numbering to be in the 10,000 series. Mock-ups of the locomotive cab show numbers in the 6000 series, which has not been used since the withdrawal of the DQ and QR class locomotives.[12] It was reported in late 2022 that the design phase had been completed, and the first locomotives are now in production, to be completed in mid-2024.[13] As of November 2023, the class numbering is in the 8000 series.[14]

### Production, testing and entry into service

[edit]

KiwiRail posted a video on their Facebook page on 8 February 2024 of the prototype locomotive at the Stadler manufacturing plant in Spain. The short clip shows one of the new DM class locomotives running on a factory track under its own power. The post stated that the first two diesel locomotives will join the KiwiRail fleet later in 2024.[15]

The first two locomotives, DM8012 and DM8029, were unloaded from the Eemslift Nadine at the Port of Lyttelton near Christchurch on 19 October 2024.[16] They were described as the prototypes and will be commissioned at the KiwiRail Middleton Depot and undergo six months of in-service trials.[17][18]

## See also

[edit]

* New Zealand DL class locomotive
* Locomotives of New Zealand

## References

[edit]

### Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ KiwiRail have stated that "DM" will be used as the classification for the locomotives.[3]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "KiwiRail, SALi Diesel-Electric, New Zealand, PDF" (PDF). Stadler Rail. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
2. ^ a b c "New locomotives to replace South Island fleet". KiwiRail. 12 October 2021.
3. ^ a b "Our new South Island locos". The Express (367). KiwiRail: 7. December 2021.
4. ^ a b "Stadler and KiwiRail strengthen partnership through recent locomotive agreements" (PDF). 27 February 2024.
5. ^ "Expression of Interest - Supply of Mainline Locomotives to KiwiRail". Government Electronic Tender Service. May 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
6. ^ "Budget 2021: KiwiRail the big transport winner with money for new locomotives and locally built wagons". New Zealand Herald. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
7. ^ a b "Stadler and KiwiRail sign a contract for 57 mainline locomotives" (PDF). Stadler Rail. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
8. ^ "Stadler wins New Zealand loco order". The Railway Magazine (1448): 100. November 2021.
9. ^ "Rail Union Says New Locomotives A Great Investment In Future Of KiwiRail". Scoop.co.nz. 12 October 2021.
10. ^ "Stadler to supply 34 locomotives for TRA in Taiwan". Global Railway Review. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
11. ^ "Stadler Wins First Large Contract in the Pacific Region, 34 locomotives for TRA in Taiwan". Stadler Rail. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
12. ^ Bond 2022, p. 39.
13. ^ Daryl Bond (December 2022). "Other Rolling Stock News". The Linesider (10): 48. ISSN 2703-6197.
14. ^ "[NZ] Stadler's narrow gauge diesel locomotives for KiwiRail – project update". Railcolor News. 17 November 2023.
15. ^ "KiwiRail Facebook page". KiwiRail. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
16. ^ Geoff Mackley (19 October 2024). "BREAKING NEWS: New DM class locos arrive at Lyttelton". YouTube. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
17. ^ KiwiRail (21 October 2024). "Introducing the first of our brand-new DM class locomotives". YouTube. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
18. ^ "KiwiRail unveils new locomotives to replace ageing fleet". TVNZ. 31 October 2024.

### Bibliography

[edit]

* Bond, Darryl (September 2022). "A First Look at the DM class". The Linesider (9): 39. ISSN 2703-6197.

## External links

[edit]

* Stadler - DM class locomotive

* v
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Rail vehicles of New Zealand

Diesel locomotives|

| Mainline|

* DA (inc. DAA, DAR)
* DB (inc. DBR)
* DC (inc. DCP)
* DF (English Electric)
* DF (General Motors) inc. DFT, DFB, DFM
* DG (inc. DH of 1956)
* DI
* DJ
* DL
* DM
* DQ and QR
* DX (inc. DXB, DXC, DXR)

|

Shunt|

* DE
* DH of 1978
* DS
* DSA
* DSB
* DSC
* DSG
* DSJ
* TR

Electric locomotives|

| 1500 V DC|

* EA (later EO of 1968)
* EC
* ED
* EO of 1923
* EW

|

25 kV AC|

* EF

Battery|

* E
* EB

Diesel multiple units|

* ADK/ADB class diesel multiple unit
* ADL/ADC class diesel multiple unit

Electric multiple units|

| 1500 V DC (Wellington)|

* "English Electric" DM (inc. D trailers)
* "Ganz Mavag" EM (inc. ET trailers)
* "Matangi" FP (inc. FT trailers)

|

25 kV AC (Auckland)|

* AM (inc. AMP, AMT, AMA)

Railcars|

| RM class|

* 88 seater (also known as Fiats or twinsets)
* Clayton steam railcar
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* Model T Ford railcar
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* Silver Fern railcar
* Standard railcar
* Thomas Transmission railcar
* Vulcan railcar
* Wairarapa railcar
* Westinghouse railcar

|

Others|

* A 88 Buckhurst petrol carriage

Steam locomotives|

* A of 1873
* A of 1906 (inc. AD)
* AA
* AB
* B of 1874
* B of 1899
* BA
* BB
* BC
* C of 1873
* C of 1930
* D of 1874
* D of 1929
* E of 1872 & 1875
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* F
* FA (inc. FB)
* G of 1874
* G Garratt of 1928 (inc. Pacific rebuild)
* H
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* JA
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* K of 1877
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* KA
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* L
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* M
* N
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* O
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* P of 1876
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* Q of 1878
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* R
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* T
* U
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* V
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* X
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Locomotive hauled carriages|

* 50-foot carriage
* 56-foot carriage
* AC class (Grassgrubs)
* ex-British Rail Mark 2 carriage
* AK carriage
* FM class guards van
* SX carriages

Track evaluation, cranes, and maintenance|

* ETM class track evaluation car
* EL class rail cranes
* ETM class rail maintenance equipment

* Locomotives of New Zealand
* Rail transport in New Zealand
* Railway preservation in New Zealand.

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