Progress Rail Signs Contract with Beacon Rail, Growing Services in Mainland Europe

December 16, 2024

LONDON, United Kingdom – Beacon Rail and Progress Rail have signed a new 10-year maintenance service agreement (MSA) to continue servicing Beacon’s fleet of EMD® JT42CWR locomotives in Europe.

“Beacon’s strategic partnership with Progress Rail to maintain our Class 66 locomotives demonstrates our commitment to providing reliable, high-performance locomotives that meet the needs of our customers across Europe,” commented Ross Shepherd, chief technical officer at Beacon Rail.

As part of the agreement, Progress Rail will obtain its Level 4 Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM4) certification and provide maintenance services to locomotives in the field and at local depots, ensuring high product availability for Beacon’s operators.

“Progress Rail provides best-in-class engineering, services and quality OEM parts,” commented Jack Zhang, executive vice president of locomotive at Progress Rail. “Our integrated service and supply chain solution has contributed to a strong and growing relationship with Beacon, and through this agreement, we will continue providing them with the highest levels of service, flexibility and collaboration.”

The companies will invest in the fleet with proven OEM upgrades, enhancing the performance and reliability of the locomotives. As part of the ECM4 certification, Progress Rail and Beacon have agreed upon an optimized running and heavy maintenance plan at strategic locations in Belgium and Germany, aligning with Beacon’s customer base.

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About Progress Rail

Progress Rail, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., is one of the largest integrated and diversified providers of rolling stock and infrastructure solutions and technologies for global rail customers. Progress Rail delivers advanced EMD® locomotives and engines, trackwork, fasteners, signaling, rail welding and maintenance-of-way equipment, along with dedicated locomotive and freight car services, aftermarket parts and recycling operations. The company also offers advanced rail technologies, including data analytics, train automation, operational optimization, connected assets, predictive maintenance, asset protection and movement and yard planning. Progress Rail’s deep industry expertise, together with the support of Caterpillar, ensures a commitment to quality through innovative solutions for the rail industry. Progress Rail has a network of nearly 150 locations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabi, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, India and Australia. For more information, visit progressrail.com and follow @Progress_Rail on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Media Contact

Progress Rail Corporate Communications

Amy Everett:  aeverett@progressrail.com, +1(256)505-6749