# Rail traction: Equipment and suppliers Pantographs, transformers and 600 kW motors under the floor Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/equipment/ What this tab covers For each method, the main pieces of equipment, who makes them (by region) and what they are made of (bill of materials). Electric and diesel-electric trains share the same electrical drive: converter and traction motors. Electric trains add a pantograph and transformer; diesel-electrics add an engine and alternator. #### Electric train and metro **Traction transformer**^[1](https://library.e.abb.com/public/896cf517fcce4406b7a4facb6d6b7d0c/Traction_systems_high%20power_RevB_180916_web.pdf) Steps high line voltage (50 Hz or 16.7 Hz AC systems) down for the converter; ratings 1.5-5.2 MW. Europe ABB (Switzerland) Bill of materials - **Core**: grain-oriented electrical steel - **Windings**: copper or aluminium conductors, oil or ester cooling **Traction converter**^[1](https://library.e.abb.com/public/896cf517fcce4406b7a4facb6d6b7d0c/Traction_systems_high%20power_RevB_180916_web.pdf) Turns line or transformer output into variable-frequency three-phase AC and back again when braking; 1.6-3 MW per unit. Europe ABB (other makers not ranked in checked sources) Bill of materials - **Power semiconductors**: 1.7-6.5 kV IGBT modules - **Cooling**: liquid-cooled power modules - **Cabinets**: aluminium **Traction motors and gearbox**^[1](https://library.e.abb.com/public/896cf517fcce4406b7a4facb6d6b7d0c/Traction_systems_high%20power_RevB_180916_web.pdf) Turn electrical power into wheel torque; up to 600 kW per motor in high-power trains, 1.2 MW in freight locomotives. Europe ABB (other makers not ranked in sources used) Bill of materials - **Stator**: electrical steel laminations and copper windings - **Rotor**: copper bars (induction) or rare-earth permanent magnets **Complete electric multiple units and locomotives**^[6](https://www.sci.de/shop/productfiles/p18/WorldwideRollingStockManufacturers2025readingsample.pdf)^[7](https://crrcgc.cc/en/2026-05/12/article_2026051209081739202.html)^[8](https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2026/5/alstoms-fiscal-year-202526-results) Integrate the traction chain into a train. China CRRC Europe Alstom, Siemens Mobility, Stadler Rail Japan and Korea Hitachi Rail Bill of materials - **Car bodies**: aluminium or stainless steel - **Bogies and wheelsets**: forged steel #### Diesel-electric and battery locomotive **Diesel engine and traction alternator**^[1](https://library.e.abb.com/public/896cf517fcce4406b7a4facb6d6b7d0c/Traction_systems_high%20power_RevB_180916_web.pdf)^[6](https://www.sci.de/shop/productfiles/p18/WorldwideRollingStockManufacturers2025readingsample.pdf)^[10](https://www.wabteccorp.com/trains-of-thought/advantage-wabtec-relentless-innovation-drives-evolution-series-engines-into-the-future)^[12](https://electrek.co/2026/09/19/e-quipment-highlight-4400-hp-wabtec-flxdrive-electric-locomotive/) Engine drives an alternator (traction generators up to 2.65 MW) that supplies the converter. United States Wabtec, Progress Rail China CRRC Bill of materials - **Engine**: large four-stroke diesel with turbochargers; Wabtec's EVO Tier 4 meets the limits through engine design without urea aftertreatment - **Alternator**: copper windings, electrical steel, rectifier **Locomotive traction battery**^[11](https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wabtec-battery-electric-locomotive-reduces-fuel-use-by-11)^[12](https://electrek.co/2026/09/19/e-quipment-highlight-4400-hp-wabtec-flxdrive-electric-locomotive/) Stores braking and yard-charged energy to cut fuel use; 2.4-7 MWh per locomotive. United States Wabtec, Progress Rail Bill of materials - **Cells**: lithium-ion cells (chemistry and supplier not stated in sources) #### Sources 1. [Traction systems for high-power applications (brochure, Rev B) (company data)](https://library.e.abb.com/public/896cf517fcce4406b7a4facb6d6b7d0c/Traction_systems_high%20power_RevB_180916_web.pdf) ABB, 2018 2. [Worldwide Rolling Stock Manufacturers 2025 (reading sample)](https://www.sci.de/shop/productfiles/p18/WorldwideRollingStockManufacturers2025readingsample.pdf) SCI Verkehr, 2025 3. [CRRC 2025 annual results briefing in Hong Kong](https://crrcgc.cc/en/2026-05/12/article_2026051209081739202.html) CRRC Corporation, 2026 4. [Alstom's fiscal year 2025/26 results](https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2026/5/alstoms-fiscal-year-202526-results) Alstom, 2026 5. [Advantage Wabtec: relentless innovation drives Evolution Series engines into the future](https://www.wabteccorp.com/trains-of-thought/advantage-wabtec-relentless-innovation-drives-evolution-series-engines-into-the-future) Wabtec, 2025 6. [Wabtec: battery-electric locomotive reduces fuel use by 11%](https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wabtec-battery-electric-locomotive-reduces-fuel-use-by-11) FreightWaves, 2021 7. [E-quipment highlight: 4,400 hp Wabtec FLXdrive electric locomotive](https://electrek.co/2026/09/19/e-quipment-highlight-4400-hp-wabtec-flxdrive-electric-locomotive/) Electrek, 2026 ## Other sections - [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/index.md) - [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/overview/index.md) - [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/correlation/index.md) - [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/science/index.md) - [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/valuechain/index.md) - [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/economics/index.md) - [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/methods/index.md) - [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/links/index.md)