Prima is a family of railway diesel

Diesel locomotive

A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...

 and electric locomotive

Electric locomotive

An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...

s built by Alstom

Alstom

Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...

. Manufacturing began in the late 1990s, and by 2008 Alstom had sold 1750 Prima locomotives. The second generation Prima II was launched in 2009.

First generation

Electric locomotives

• SNCF Class BB 27000
  SNCF Class BB 27000
  The SNCF Class BB 27000 "Prima" electric locomotives were built by Alstom between 2001–2005. These are dual-voltage freight-only locomotives; they are not fitted with a 1500 V DC electrical line for train heating and accessories. One hundred and eighty of the locomotives, numbered 27001–27180,...
  
  
• SNCF Class BB 27300
  SNCF Class BB 27300
  The SNCF Class BB 27300 are a series of 67 electric locomotives, built as part of the "Prima" range by Alstom. Painted in the blue and white livery of Transilien, the brand name for the SNCF network around Paris, these locomotives are the passenger equivalent of the freight-only Class BB 27000 and...
  
  
• SNCF Class BB 37000
  SNCF Class BB 37000
  The SNCF Class BB 37000 "Prima" electric locomotives are currently being built by Alstom. These locomotives are the triple-voltage version of the Class BB 27000...
  
  
• SNCF Class BB 47000
  SNCF Class BB 47000
  The SNCF Class BB 47000 "Prima" electric locomotive is a 6000 kW locomotive, built by Alstom. This locomotive is the quadruple-voltage version of the Class BB 27000. So far, only one locomotive, numbered 47001, has been built and was tested by Fret SNCF with a view for further orders...
  
  
• Prima Class E 37500
• China Railways HXD2
  China Railways HXD2
  The HXD2 locomotives are a series of related locomotive classes built by CNR Datong Electric Locomotive and Alstom. The locomotives designs are based on the Alstom Prima electric locomotives, and are a product of a cooperation agreement signed between the two companies in 2004...
  
  

Diesel locomotives

• SNCF Class BB 75000
  SNCF Class BB 75000
  The SNCF BB 75000 are 4 axle diesel electric locomotives ordered in 2000 by SNCF for freight operations to renew its aging fleet.The locomotives are also classified as Prima DE30BAC...
  
  

Second generation

On 20 May 2008 Alstom announced details of a second generation of Prima locomotives, named "Prima II". The prototype was unveiled on 3 June 2009 at Alstom's Belfort plant.

The locomotives are designed to be modular and reconfigurable to customers requirements throughout their lifetimes. Electric versions can work with up to four different overhead line voltages; 1.5 and 3kV DC, and 15 and 25kV AC, with power ratings of up to 6.4 MW, and operating speeds of 140 to 200 km/h. The design also allows for broader gauge versions with Russia, China, and India as well as Finland being seen by Alstom as potential markets. A diesel version is also planned in the long term.

Compatibility with the ETRMS signalling system for European cross border operations is also a feature.

Six axle freight CoCo versions are also proposed, with an increase in power output to 9.6MW and a top speed of 120 km/h

The first order for the second generation Prima II came from Morocco's national railway ONCFM

ONCF

ONCF or ONCFM is Morocco's national railway operator. The Office employs around 9,767 employees and has a network of 1,907 km, all standard gauge...

, with an order in November 2007 for twenty electric locomotives. These are due to be delivered in the second half of 2009 for entry into passenger and freight service in 2010. The Morrocan locomotives are to be initially delivered for 3kV DC operation, with the potential to install a transformer and other electrical equipment for 25kV AC operation at a later date when Moroccan electrification upgrade schemes take place.

Operators

Prima

• China Railways
  China Railways
  China Railways is the national railway operator of the People's Republic of China, under the Chinese Ministry of Railways.China Railways operates rail commuter and freight transport via several smaller companies....
  
  
• SNCF
  SNCF
  The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
  
   and STIF (France)

Prima II

• ONCFM
  ONCF
  ONCF or ONCFM is Morocco's national railway operator. The Office employs around 9,767 employees and has a network of 1,907 km, all standard gauge...
  
  (Morocco)

Further information

• Locomotive Bogie classification system CoCo and BoBo Technical sheet with special reference to Prima CoCo and BoBo models alstom.com
• Prima II official site (English) flash presentation , alstom.com