Vectron (locomotive)

Vectron

Siemens Vectron diesel version (Innotrans 2010)
Type and origin
Designer Siemens Mobility
Builder Siemens Mobility
Specifications
UIC class BoBo
Wheel diameter 1.250 m (4 ft 1.2 in) (new) , 1.170 m (3 ft 10.1 in) (worn)
Length 18.980 m (62 ft 3.2 in)
Width 3.012 m (9 ft 10.6 in)
Axle load 22.5 t (22.1 long tons; 24.8 short tons) (maximum)
Loco weight ~80–87 t (79–86 long tons; 88–96 short tons)
Electric system(s) Catenary:
Any of 1.5 kV DC, 3 kV DC, 25 kV AC 50 Hz , 15 kV 16 23 Hz AC
Current collection Pantograph
Performance figures
Maximum speed 160 km/h (99 mph) or 200 km/h (120 mph)
Power output 5.2 MW (7,000 hp) or 6.4 MW (8,600 hp)
Tractive effort 300 kN (starting)
Data refers to electric versions,[1] except where noted

The Vectron is a design of reconfigurable, modular BoBo multipurpose locomotive by Siemens Mobility, intended to be the successor to the successful EuroSprinter family of locomotives. Diesel, DC electric, AC electric and multisystem locomotives were launched at the 2010 Innotrans trade fair.

Background and design

Around the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century Siemens successfully produced freight and passenger/universal versions of its Eurosprinter locomotive platform; initially made as single voltage machines for European state railways (Austria, Germany), later as multivoltage locomotives for cross border working; this design resulted in numerous orders from both state and private railways, as well as rail leasing companies, primarily in the European Union area.

Siemens identified the potential for further growth in the market, particularly in trans-Alpine freight (Northern Europe to Italy), railfreight from northern European ports into Europe and from Baltic ports into Russia, as well as the potential for growth in newer members of the European Union (Poland, Hungary etc.).[2]

The design incorporates elements from previous Siemens locomotivesthe train control package and traction control system are from the ES64F4 and ES64U4 Eurosprinter models respectively, whilst traction system is derived from the ER20 EuroRunner. The cab and replaceable front end (buffer-bar) derives from the latest Eurosprinter model[3] i.e. locomotives such as the Belgian SNCB Class 18 or Portuguese CP Class 4700.

Design

The Vectron is designed to be easily reconfigurable to a variety of country or work specific configurations; reconfiguration to different safety systems is simplified with pre-designed mounting points for track equipment, modular safety equipment cabinets in the locomotive body[4] and a driver's desk designed for a wide variety of information equipment.[2]

The locomotives are also available in a medium power (5.2 MW or 7,000 hp) version for regional passenger and medium freight work as well as a high power (6.4 MW or 8,600 hp) version. DC only versions are only available in medium power.[1] The standard design speed is 160 km/h (99 mph), which can be upgraded to 200 km/h (120 mph) with the addition of semi-active yaw dampers incorporating a bogie–bogie steering mechanism.[2]

The main body of the vehicle is self-supporting, consisting of an underframe of three longitudinal sill plates (centre and sides), side walls, transverse support members for the bogie pivots and for the transformer, and end sill plates. The roof is in three sections and is removable, the two drivers cabins also have a replaceable front end. The buffer beam section is also a separate part, which allows replacement if it is damaged in a collision.[2]

The main compartment of the locomotive contains the electrical equipment except the main transformer and batteries which are located below the frame. All electrical components are placed in predefined locations on either side of a central aisle connecting the two cabins with each mounting position being reserved for a single type of equipment.[2]

The bogies transmit tractive force through a central pivot. The traction motors are flexibly supported by the bogie frame, and are connected to the wheelset mounted reduction gears by a multiple disc coupling. A full hollow shaft (folded cardan) drive system is also optional. Mechanical braking is via wheel-mounted disc brakes. Electrical regenerative braking is also used.[2]

The locomotives can work in double, multiple and push-pull formation with other Vectron, Eurosprinter and Eurorunner locomotives as well as some other locomotives fitted with the same multiple working equipment.[2] The design also allows single cab version for use in permanent double coupled locomotive working or for use with passenger trains with a blanking module replacing one of the cab ends.[5]

Diesel engined versions

A fully diesel powered version was launched in 2010. The design uses a 2.4 MW (3,200 hp), MTU 16V 4000 R84 engine.[6]

An electric locomotive design with 180 kW diesel engine for shunting operations was presented at the 2012 Innotrans trade fair.[5]

Operations

Introduction and testing

The first locomotives of the type were AC and multisystem locomotives presented at the Test- and Validationcenter Wegberg-Wildenrath in June 2010.[7] AC, DC, multivoltage electric system and a diesel engined version were officially launched at the 2010 Innotrans trade fair.[6]

The Vectron design received certification to operate in Romania in 2012,[8] the DC Vectron version also was homologated for use in Poland in 2012,[9] and the design received European community certification for inter-operability on high-speed rail systems.[10] (EC Decisions 2002/735/EC and 2008/232/CE)

Certification for use of the AC version in Germany was obtained in December 2012, as part of joint certification procedure between Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands.[11]

Over the night of 25–26 January 2013, a modified Vectron locomotive was tested in the Channel Tunnel.[12]

Certification for use in Austria was obtained in early 2013.[13] Full certification for use in Sweden was obtained in April 2013, replacing a temporary certificate.[14]

The AC version received certification for Hungary in late 2013.[15] In January 2014 the Vectron locomotive class received certification under the EU 'Technical specification for interoperability for Locomotives and Passenger rolling stock' (Decision 2011/291/EU),[16] and in July 2014 the AC version was certificated for use in Norway.[17]

The locomotives were released for operation in Turkey in November 2014.[18] Preliminary certifications for some multisystem locomotives in the Czech Republic [19] and Slovakia[20] followed. A preliminary certification for some DC version locomotives in the Czech Republic was reported shortly after.[21] The permanent authorizations for the MS and AC versions were granted in March 2015 for the Czech Republic [22] and in May 2015 for Slovakia.[23] In July 2015, the DC version was homologated for Italy.[24] Since August 2015, the MS version is homologated for Poland.[25] The homologation for Croatia and Slovenia was published in September 2015.[26]

The diesel engined version Vectron DE is homologated for use in Germany since September 2014,[27] for use in Turkey since November 2014[18] and for use in Austria since August 2015.

Homologation overview

Country Multisystem AC DC Diesel
Germany x x x
Italy x
Norway x
Austria x x x
Poland x x
Romania x x
Sweden x
Slovakia x x
Czech Republic x x x
Turkey x x x x
Hungary x x
Croatia x x
Slovenia x

Orders

Company Type Number Date ordered Notes
Railpool 15kV 16.7 Hz 6 2010 For cross-border freight and passenger services in Germany and Austria.[28]
FuoriMuro 3kV DC 2 2012 Italian private operator. Ordered March 2012 for delivery in late 2013.[29]
DB Schenker Rail Polska 3 kV DC 23 2012 For freight service in Poland, with delivery from 2012 to 2015, (option for further 13 locomotives).[30] First units delivered December 2012.[31] Four of them are currently leased by PKP Intercity as temporary replacement for EP09 until July 2015.[32]
MRCE AC 15 2013 160 km/h version, prefitted for conversion to multi-system versions. Ordered by leasing company Mitsui Rail Capital Europe (MRCE), for expected use between Germany, Austria, and Hungary.[33]
BoxXpress AC 4 2013 For services between Germany and Austria.[34]
CargoServ 1 2013 For use by Cargo Service GmbH. subsidiary of Logistik Service GmbH (LogServ).[35]
Paribus Capital AC 2 2013 Acquired by Paribus Capital GmbH for lease on passenger services in Sweden.[36]
VR Group 25 kV 50 Hz AC 80 2013 Contract of over €300 million with Finnish national operator to replace VR Class Sr1 on passenger and freight (to be finalised early 2014, with options for 97 more).[37] Initial expectation of deliveries starting in 2016,[38] with 10 locomotives in service beginning in 2017. Series production from 2018 to 2026. 1,524 mm (5 ft) gauge and modified for work down to 40 °C. Also fitted with 'last mile' diesel engines for unelectrifed docks and yards.[39] First unit delivered April 2015, for pre-series production testing.[40] Units are to be winterised, including air intakes on roof.[40]
CFI DC 2 2014 2 DC units ordered by Compagnia Ferroviaria Italiana (CFI) with 180 kW diesel shunting modules ('last mile diesel') for operations on unelectrified sections.[41][42]
ELL AC/MS 50 (up to) 2014 Ordered for leasor European Locomotive Leasing (ELL), part financed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR).[43] Agreement for up to 50 locomotives, with AC versions for Germany, Austria and Hungary, and multisystem versions with additional equipment for operating into Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, also fitted with ETCS.[44][45]
mgw Service 1 2014 Delivery August 2014.[46]
Railpool 5 2014 Order placed by leasing company Railpool GmbH.[47]
MRCE 15 kV AC 20 2014 June 2014; twenty 6.4 MW 200 km/h ETCS fitted locomotives ordered.[48]
BoxXpress 4 2014 Delivery starting in November 2014.[49]
Wiener Lokalbahnen Cargo GmbH (WLC) 1 2014 No further details known.[50]
BLS Cargo MS 15 2015 For operation in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands, including trans-alpine freight.[51]
ENON GmbH AC / Diesel 1 2015 ENON GmbH freight subsidiary EGP (Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam) ordered a locomotive for cross-border traffic between Austria and Germany. The locomotive is equipped with a diesel engine for shunting or railway siding trips.[52]
ITL Eisenbahngesellschaft MS 3 2015 Order for three locomotives for use in Germany, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary (option for three more).[53]
PKP Cargo MS 15 2015 For delivery early 2016 to summer 2017. Equipped for Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, and with ETCS; 3 locos equipped for Netherlands as well. Option for five further units.[54]
MRCE 15 kV AC/MS 21 2015 October 2015; 10 locomotives for use in Germany and Austria, 11 for use in Germany, Austria and Italy. All fitted with relevant national safety systems as well as ETCS.[55][56]
Railpool 3 2015 Order placed by leasing company Railpool GmbH.[57]
Unicredit Leasing GmbH DC 8 2015 Locomotives leased by DB Schenker Rail. Delivery from the end of 2016, 5.2 MW, 160 km/h.[58][59]
EP Cargo MS 1 2015 Delivery in February 2016. Locomotive homologated for Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania.[60]
Prvá Slovenská Železnicná (PSŽ) MS 1 2015 Locomotive homologated for Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.[61]
Lokomotion MS 8 2016 ETCS equipped. For operations in Germany, Austria and Italy.[62]
TX Logistik MS 6 2016 Purchased by Alpha Trains Luxembourg (Alpha Trains) for lease to TX Logistik. For use between Germany, Austria and Italy, with ETCS fitted.[63]
ČD Cargo MS 5 2016 The multisystem locomotives can be operated in all countries neighboring the Czech Republic as well as in Hungary and Romania. All locomotives will be equipped with train control systems for these countries as well as the European Train Control System (ETCS). The locomotives have a maximum output of 6,400 kW and a top speed of 160 km/h.[64]
PIMK AC 1 2016 The Bulgarian logistics company PIMK orders the first ever medium power locomotive of this type sold by Siemens.[65]
Railpool (Harburg, July 2013) 
MRCE (Munich, June 2013) 
DB Schenker (Poland) (Gdańsk, September 2013) 
Siemens Vectron (August 2014) 
BoxXpress Vectron, (Essen, July 2013) 

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Vectron : A universal locomotive for the European market www.siemens.com
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The Vectron – Siemens’ new generation of locomotives for rail transportation in Europe" (PDF) (Press release). www.siemens.com. 29 June 2010.
  3. "Siemens Vectron locomotive on test". Railway Gazette International. 29 June 2010.
  4. "Vectron – Siemens’ universal locomotive for rail transportation in Europe" (PDF) (Press release). www.siemens.com. 29 June 2010.
  5. 1 2 Background paper - Vectron: extended locomotive concept (PDF), Siemens, September 2012
  6. 1 2 "Siemens unveils diesel surprise", www.railwaygazette.com, 23 September 2010
  7. "Siemens Vectron revealed". www.railcolor.net. 29 June 2010.
  8. Schramke, Ellen; Rommel, Anne, eds. (22 June 2012), "Vectron: first unlimited homologation" (PDF), Rail Systems News (Siemens)
  9. "Lokomotywa Vectron otrzymała polski certyfikat", logistyka.wnp.pl (in Polish), 17 September 2012
  10. "Vectron: First locomotive platform in Europe to receive TSI Highspeed certification", www.europeanrailwayreview.com (Siemens), 17 September 2012
  11. "Vectron receives homologation for Germany", www.transportweekly.com, 7 January 2013
  12. Siemens Vectron tested in the Channel Tunnel, Railway Gazette, 28 January 2013
  13. "Vectron receives homologation for Austria", www.europeanrailwayreview.com, 11 March 2013
  14. Siemens (7 May 2013), "Vectron receives homologation for Sweden", www.europeanrailwayreview.com
  15. Siemens (5 December 2013), "Vectron receives authorization for Hungary", www.europeanrailwayreview.com
  16. "Vectron meets all applicable European requirements for approval", www.europeanrailwayreview.com, 30 January 2014
  17. "Vectron AC certified in Norway (Ref. No. SOICRL201414-01)", www.siemens.com (press release), 2 July 2014
  18. 1 2 Siemens Vectron is Now Registered in Turkey: E87000, 12. Dezember 2014
  19. Vectron MS Approved For Czech Test Operation, 10. November 2014
  20. Vectron MS Locomotives In The Czech Republic, 18. November 2014
  21. Also Vectron DC locomotives get preliminary CZ approval, 20. November 2014
  22. Full approval for both Vectron AC and MS, www.railcolor.net, 26 March 2015
  23. Vectron locomotive receives authorization for Slovakia, www.siemens.com, 12 May 2015
  24. Vectron DC officially homologated for Italy, www.railcolor.net, 13 July 2015
  25. Vectron MS fully approved for Poland, www.railcolor.net, 07 August 2015
  26. Siemens Vectron homologated for Slovenia and Croatia, www.railcolor.net, 29 September 2015
  27. Vectron DE receives authorization for Germany and TSI certificate, www.siemens.com, 24 September 2014
  28. "Siemens wins first Vectron order". Railway Gazette International. 23 December 2010.
  29. Market entry: Siemens sells two Vectron locomotives to Italy for the first time (PDF), Siemens, 20 March 2012
  30. "DB Schenker orders 23 locomotives from Siemens", www.transportweekly.com, 5 December 2012
  31. Siemens (20 December 2012), "Siemens hands over two Vectron locomotives to DB Schenker Rail Polska", www.europeanrailwayreview.com
  32. Rynek Kolejowy (9 February 2015), "PKP Intercity wynajęło Vectrony DB Schenker", www.rynek-kolejowy.pl
  33. Siemens (4 June 2013), "MRCE orders 15 Vectron locomotives", www.europeanrailwayreview.com
  34. Siemens (12 August 2013), "Four Vectron locomotives for boxXpress", www.europeanrailwayreview.com
  35. "Entering the Austrian market: CargoServ orders Vectron locomotive", www.transportweekly.com, 12 September 2013
  36. Siemens (17 October 2013), "Paribus Capital orders Vectron AC", www.europeanrailwayreview.com
  37. Barrow, Keith (20 December 2013), "VR Group orders 80 Vectron locomotives", www.railjournal.com
  38. VR valitsi veturitoimittajaksi Siemensine (in Finnish), Siemens, 20 December 2013
  39. "VR orders Siemens Vectron locomotives", www.railwaygazette.com, 20 December 2013
  40. 1 2 "Broad gauge Vectron arrives in Finland", www.railwaygazette.com, 9 April 2015
  41. "CFI BESTELLT ZWEI VECTRON-LOKS MIT RANGIERMODUL", werkstattatlas.info (in German)
  42. D'Albero, Andrea (11 February 2014), "Siemens Vectron a CFI", www.ferrovie.info (in Italian)
  43. Chassany, Anne-Sylvaine; Odell, Mark (31 March 2013), "KKR backs European train leasing start-up", www.ft.com
  44. "European Locomotive Leasing signs framework for 50 locomotives", www.railwaygazette.com, 31 March 2014
  45. ELL to order up to 50 Siemens Vectron locomotives (PDF) (press release), Siemens / ELL, 31 March 2014
  46. "mgw Serive Gmbh. & Co. KG", www.mgwservice.de (in German), retrieved 28 April 2014, Aktuelles: 11.04.2014: Vertragsunterzeichnung für einen Siemens Vectron. Auslieferung August 2014
  47. "Change in Ownership at Railpool", www.railpool.eu, 9 May 2014, In parallel to the acquisition of Railpool, an order for five Vectron locomotives has been placed with Siemens for delivery in the coming months.
  48. Barrow, Keith (17 June 2014), "MRCE orders more Vectron locomotives", www.railjournal.com
  49. "Four more Vectron locomotives for boxXpress.de", www.railcolor.net, 26 November 2014
  50. "WLC orders one Vectron locomotive", www.railcolor.net, 26 November 2014
  51. "BLS Cargo orders Vectron locomotives", www.railwaygazette.com, 27 March 2015
  52. "EGP first operator to get a Vectron AC locomotive with shunting diesel module", www.railcolor.net, 7 May 2015
  53. "ITL Eisenbahn setzt Siemens Vectron-Lokomotiven ein", www.captrain.de, 28 August 2015
  54. "PKP Cargo orders 15 Siemens locomotives", www.railwaygazette.com, 23 Sep 2015
  55. "MRCE orders 21 additional Vectron locomotives", www.railcolor.net, 5 October 2015
  56. "Siemens supplies locomotives from stock for rapid delivery", www.railwaygazette.com, 13 Oct 2015
  57. "Railpool gets more Vectron locomotives", www.railcolor.net, 6 October 2015
  58. Siemens to supply locomotives for operation at DB Schenker Rail (press release), Siemens, 30 November 2015
  59. "DB Schenker Rail orders Vectrons for Italy", www.railwaygazette.com, 30 November 2015
  60. "EP Cargo purchases one Vectron locomotive", www.railcolor.net, 1 December 2015
  61. "A Vectron locomotive for Prvá Slovenská Železnicná (PSŽ)", www.railcolor.net, 22 December 2015
  62. Barrow, Keith (29 Jan 2016), Lokomotion orders Siemens Vectron locomotives
  63. "Alpha Trains orders Vectron locomotives for TX Logistik", www.railwaygazette.com, 12 Apr 2016
  64. ČD Cargo orders five Vectron locomotives (press release), Siemens, 13 Apr 2016
  65. "Logistics company PIMK purchases Vectron 192 962", www.railcolor.net, 27 April 2016

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