New Zealand DM class locomotive

The New Zealand DM class of 66 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 2024 and 2026.

Background
In March 2020, KiwiRail released a tender for new mainline locomotives to replace the 47-strong DX class, 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.

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

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. 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
KiwiRail has stated the locomotives will be classified as class "DM". 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. 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. As of November 2023, the class numbering is in the 8000 series.

Production, testing and entry into service
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 locomotives running on test tracks under its own power. The post stated that the first two locomotives will join the KiwiRail fleet later in 2024.