Siemens and DB Cargo AG have signed a framework agreement for the delivery of 100 locomotives. At the closing of the contract, the freight transport arm of Deutsche Bahn called up 60 Vectron multi-system locomotives. The locomotives will serve on the Rhine-Alpine-Corridor (DACHINL: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands). Delivery of the vehicles will begin at the end of 2017. The locomotives will also operate in Belgium beginning in 2020.
The locomotives will have a maximum output of 6.4 MW and a top speed of 160 km/h, and will be equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS). They will be built in the Siemens plant in Munich-Allach, Germany.
“With this order, DB Cargo is investing in the future of freight transport by rail. The ordered multi-system locomotives will make it possible to operate a train from the Netherlands to Italy without changing locomotives. This will make European freight transport fast, efficient and environmentally friendly,” says Jochen Eickholt, CEO of Siemens Mobility Division.
“The order for the multi-system locomotives marks a further milestone in the program to expand and modernize our European locomotive fleet that has been underway for four years. At the same time, this product is a key component in our growth strategy for interoperable European rail freight transport. By working together with Siemens in this project, we hope to have established a partnership that will decisively support our ambitions for vehicles with respect to our rail freight transport master plan,” notes Dr. Jürgen Wilder, CEO of DB Cargo AG.
Update 04.08.2017 1.40 pm CET: Deutsche Bahn also released information about this order. The initial order for sixty locomotives has a value of around 250 million euro. Five machines will be delivered before the end of this year. The other 55 machines will arrive in the second half of 2018.
With the investments in new locomotives, modern freight wagons and additional operating staff, Deutsche Bahn wants to boost and accelerate the ‘modal shift’; getting more freight traffic from the road to the rail. Recently, the German government launched its ‘Masterplan Schienengüterverkehr’ and did it announce that rail usage fees for operators would be lowered considerably. Money that not has to be spend on rail usage, can now be invested in rolling stock and hiring new people. It does also help that market demand is currently growing.
