Twenty new multi-system locomotives of the more powerful Vectron type are intended to facilitate transalpine rail freight traffic between Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The otherwise standard lead locomotive will, it is said, become unnecessary in many cases.
The locomotives are equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS BL3) as well as the respective national train control systems. SBB Cargo International will lease the locomotives from SüdLeasing under a long-term rental agreement with flexible terms. The contract also includes maintenance of the vehicles by the manufacturer, Siemens Mobility. The "Vectron XLoad" is an equipment package designed to improve traction efficiency, enabling the locomotives to handle. XLoad will, among other things, allow for operations on the north-south axis where will be required instead of two. The Vectron locomotives are designed for a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h. Delivery of the vehicles is scheduled in 2024. to begin,
the vehicles achieve a tractive effort that was previously impossible with four-axle locomotives." “This will allow our customer to use the locomotives even more efficiently in the Alpine region,” says Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock of Siemens Mobility.
Photos: Siemens / SBB Cargo
“The Vectron is interoperable between the ARA ports (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp) and Italy. With the additional XLoad feature, we are able to haul longer and heavier trains through the Alps in single traction.” In numerous cases, this will eliminate the need for the otherwise mandatory lead locomotive. “This avoids the use of a more expensive six-axle locomotive,” says Sven Flore, CEO of SBB Cargo International.
Siemens Mobility has already sold more than 1,400 Vectronlocomotives to a total of 62 customers. These have collectively covered more than 585 million fleet kilometers and have received approvals in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Hungary.
