[FR] Akiem DE18 for SNCF Réseau – time for an update

On 23.06.2019 two new Akiem DE18 locomotives were seen during transport in Bonn-Beuel. Next to two machines in Vossloh-design, the blue/silver DE12 from innoTrans 2012 (!) the convoy included the future Akiem > SNCF Réseau 679008 and 679007 (SNCF). Both yellow-silver locomotives were on transport to Vossloh’s workshop Imateq in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (FR) where they will be finetuned before entering service.

We thank Martin Morkowsky, Pierre Lesage and Martin Drube for their contributions.

Tests with Alpha Trains > Emons 185 632 Meimersdorf – Neumünster on 25.02.2019 – Martin Drube

This means now the first 8 of 44 machines on order have arrived in France:

  • Vossloh 5502260 – 92 87 0079 001-9 F-AKIEM – SNCF Réseau 679001
  • Vossloh 5502261 – 92 87 0079 002-7 F-AKIEM – SNCF Réseau 679002
  • Vossloh 5502262 – 92 87 0079 003-5 F-AKIEM – SNCF Réseau 679003
  • Vossloh 5502263 – 92 87 0079 004-3 F-AKIEM – SNCF Réseau 679004
  • Vossloh 5502264 – 92 87 0079 005-0 F-AKIEM – SNCF Réseau 679005
  • Vossloh 5502265 – 92 87 0079 006-8 F-AKIEM – SNCF Réseau 679006
  • Vossloh 5502266 – 92 87 0079 007-6 F-AKIEM – SNCF Réseau 679007
  • Vossloh 5502267 – 92 87 0079 008-4 F-AKIEM – SNCF Réseau 679008
11.04.2019 – 679005 and 4185 026 from Neuwittenbek after braking tests. Martin Drube

On 05.06.2019, the French railway safety authority (Etablissement Public de Sécurité Ferroviaire- EPSF) issued the authorization to put the BB79000s into commercial operation. The machines feature all safety equipment so these can be operated on all conventional lines of the national railway network, including the high-speed lines.

The certificate includes the permission to operate BB79000s in multiple with 2 or 3 locomotives. The maximum speed is 120 km/h. The machines will be used for freight/construction trains, as well as for TGV rescue services.

Vossloh transport in Bonn-Beuel on 23.06.2019 – 650 + Vossloh DE18 + Akiem 679008 and 007 and Vossloh DE12 in blue and silver – Martin Morkowsky