DB Cargo ordered a 200 new locomotive fleet as part of its long-term strategy to replace 900 older-type diesel locomotives.
“We are investing in our locomotive fleet because we are going to grow. With state-of-the-art technology, we help to achieve climate goals in transport. With our modernisation programme, around 14 million liters of diesel can be saved every year,” Sigrid Nikutta, DB Board Member for Freight Transport and Head of DB Cargo said.
The new locomotive fleet has been ordered from three rolling stock manufacturers and will be used for mainline and shunting operation.
From Vossloh Locomotives the rail freight operator will acquire 50 new hybrid shunting locomotives. The new vehicles are designed as plug-in hybrids, but also have sufficient engine power with the latest exhaust gas cleaning to move freight trains weighing several thousand tonnes in shunting service. The drive systems have a modular structure and can be easily replaced if the technology develops accordingly. The federal government is supporting the introduction of this innovative technology with a total funding of EUR 15 million through the guidelines for the promotion of alternative drives in rail transport. The new hybrid locomotives will be used by DB Cargo from 2024.
The German operator will purchase from Siemens Mobility 50 Vectron Dual Mode locomotives, of which 46 locomotives will be equipped with specific adaptations required by DB Cargo and four locomotives will be used by the DB Bahnbau Gruppe GmbH. The locomotives can be operated with either diesel or electricity. The order is an option taken by DB from a framework agreement concluded in September 2020. With this order, the DB Cargo fleet will grow to 146 Vectron Dual Mode locomotives, and the DB Bahnbau Group will receive 4 locomotives of this type for the first time. Delivery of the locomotives will begin in 2026 and they will be produced at the Siemens Mobility plant in Munich-Allach.
“Our Vectron Dual Mode locomotive is supporting DB in the climate-friendly conversion of their fleet. On electrified sections of their routes, the Vectron Dual Mode will operate in a purely electric mode, and on non-electrified sections, it can switch to conventional operation and eliminate the need to change locomotives. This will reduce CO2 emissions, lower maintenance costs, and help DB implement more sustainable supply chains,” Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility said.
The third contract was won by Toshiba and covers the supply of HDB 800 hybrid shunting locomotives. A total of 100 of this type of locomotives, manufactured in Rostock, are to be used by DB Cargo. The first vehicles are expected to be delivered in 2024.
All previous diesel locomotives of DB Cargo are gradually being replaced by modern, climate-friendly machines with alternative drives. 300 new shunting and dual-powered locomotives are currently in the production for the German operator. In April, DB Cargo issued a tender for the procurement of 250 battery-diesel shunting locomotives.
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