Rolls-Royce is supplying mtu PowerPacks for a rail vehicle project in Latin America for the first time. Marcopolo Rail is installing six mtu PowerPacks of the 6H1800R83 type in three diesel multiple units for the urban rail network in the Brazilian city of Teresina. The project marks the first collaboration between Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Marcopolo Rail and is also the first deployment of mtu PowerPacks in Latin America.
The multiple units are being built for urban local transport in Teresina in north-eastern Brazil. Marcopolo Rail is producing a total of seven vehicles in three train sets for this purpose. The first six mtu PowerPacks have already been delivered and are powering the first train, which will be in assisted operation service from October 2026. The system is operated by Companhia Ferroviária e de Logística do Piauí (CFLP).
For this project, Marcopolo Rail required a propulsion solution that could be used without continuous electrification. This requirement plays a key role in many rail projects in the region, as new services are often built on existing networks. The mtu PowerPack meets this requirement by combining the essential propulsion components into a single unit and integrating it directly into the rolling stock. This enables the multiple units to be operated independently of a continuous overhead line infrastructure. No additional investment in electrification infrastructure along the route is required.