In 2023, the global market for new, diesel-driven and alternative-drive locomotives was small, with a value of approximately €2.62 billion. For many years now, the market for new diesel locomotives has been under tremendous pressure for a variety of reasons. In countries with significant fleets like China (sharply increasing electrification of the network – no deliveries since 2019) and the USA (rail freight operators’ new operating concept allows for reductions in the fleet – recently the focus has been on modernising existing fleets), deliveries of new locomotives have collapsed. Europe is currently witnessing its last large deliveries of new diesel locomotive fleets. Starting from its currently low level, however, SCI Verkehr is expecting a strong marked increase in the new vehicle business. Many alternative drive locomotive types have emerged from the testing stage and are set to gain significant market shares.

Based on current developments in the railway transport market, this study, entitled “Diesel and Alternative Drive Locomotives – Global Market Trends 2023”, delivers an analysis and sound estimate of the market for diesel and alternative drive locomotives. Based on the successful study “Diesel Locomotives – Global Market Trends” from 2020, in the past few years SCI Verkehr has verified the central input data and optimized its forecasting methodology. The study analyses both the market for mainline locomotives as well as for shunting (incl. universal) locomotives.

In concrete terms, this multi-client market study of diesel and alternative drive locomotive includes

• A regionally differentiated look at the worldwide market for diesel and alternative drive locomotives including an in-depth analysis of important national markets (analysis of all seven world regions as well as a total of eleven focus countries)
• A comprehensive analysis of the current fleet concerning operational purposes, quantities and age structures as well as future procurement potential
• An overview of the most important drivers behind the procurement and refurbishment of diesel and alternative drive locomotives in the individual regions
• Analysis of market shares of manufacturers for each region (based on locomotive deliveries within the years 2019 and 2023) as well as a forecast of new procurement and after-sales volumes of diesel and alternative drive locomotives (in EUR) for each region up to 2028
• A condensed presentation of the most important fleet-specific features of diesel and alternative drive locomotives in diagram form
• Brief description of important current and planned procurement projects as well as key modernization projects of the respective market region