The Vectron is a

locomotive A locomotive is a rail transport, rail vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, Push–pull train, push–pull operation has become common, and in the pursuit for ...

series made by

Siemens Mobility Siemens Mobility GmbH is a division of Siemens. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens Mobility has four core business units: Mobility Management, dedicated to rail technology and intelligent traffic systems, Railway Electrification, ...

, introduced at the 2010 InnoTrans trade fair in four prototype versions: diesel, multi-system, and both AC and DC

electric power Electric power is the rate of transfer of electrical energy within a electric circuit, circuit. Its SI unit is the watt, the general unit of power (physics), power, defined as one joule per second. Standard prefixes apply to watts as with oth ...

. The diesel version has been replaced in 2018 by a dual mode locomotive which is powered by electricity on electrified sections of the track and can be switched to diesel mode on non-electrified sections. The Vectron series is reconfigurable and modular, with a Bo'Bo'

wheel arrangement In rail transport, a wheel arrangement or wheel configuration is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed under a locomotive. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and c ...

, and is intended as the successor to the

EuroSprinter The EuroSprinter family of electric locomotives is a modular concept of locomotives for the European market built by Siemens Mobility. The internal Siemens product name is ES 64, with ES for EuroSprinter and the number 64 indicating the 6,400 ...

family of locomotives. It can be configured to use any or all of the four electric power systems commonly used in Europe. A more affordable, basic version called Smartron was introduced in 2018.

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

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.). The design incorporates elements from previous Siemens locomotives—the 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 i.e. locomotives such as the Portuguese CP Class 4700 or Belgian SNCB Class 18.

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 and a driver's desk designed for a wide variety of information equipment. The locomotives are also available in a medium power () version for regional passenger and medium freight work as well as a high power () version. DC only versions are only available in medium power. The standard design speed is , which can be upgraded to with the addition of semi-active yaw dampers incorporating a bogie–bogie steering mechanism. Since 2022, the locomotive can also be ordered with a top speed of 230 km/h. The main body of the vehicle is self-supporting, consisting of an underframe of three longitudinal

sill plate A sill plate or sole plate in construction and architecture is the bottom horizontal member of a wall or building to which vertical members are attached. The word "plate" is typically omitted in America and carpenters speak simply of the "sill". ...

s (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, and the two driver's cabins also have a replaceable front end. The

buffer beam A headstock of a rail vehicle is a transverse structural member located at the extreme end of the vehicle's underframe. The headstock supports the coupling at that end of the vehicle, and may also support buffers, in which case it may also be ...

section is also a separate part, which allows replacement if it is damaged in a collision. 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. 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. 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 On the rail network in Great Britain, multiple working is where two or more traction units (locomotives, diesel multiple units or electric multiple units) are coupled together in such a way that they are all under the control of one driver ...

equipment. 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.

Diesel engined versions

A fully diesel powered version was launched in 2010. The design uses a , MTU 16V 4000 84R engine. An electric locomotive design with 180 kW diesel engine for shunting operations was presented at the 2012 InnoTrans trade fair. In 2018, a dual mode locomotive was presented as a combination of electric and diesel locomotive. The new locomotive weighs 90 metric tons. The locomotive is designed to operate on a 15-kV AC electrical system and is equipped with the PZB train protection system. Regardless of its operating mode, the locomotive develops a rating of 2,000 kW at the wheel rim. The Vectron's diesel tank holds 2,500 liters of fuel. The locomotive's top speed is 160 km/h.

Operations

Introduction and testing

The first locomotives of the type were AC and multisystem locomotives presented at the Wegberg-Wildenrath Test and Validation Centre in June 2010. AC, DC, multivoltage electric system and a diesel engined version were officially launched at the 2010 InnoTrans trade fair. The Vectron design received certification to operate in

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

in 2012, the DC Vectron version also was homologated for use in Poland in 2012, and the design received

European community The European Economic Community (EEC) was a regional organisation created by the Treaty of Rome of 1957,Today the largely rewritten treaty continues in force as the ''Treaty on the functioning of the European Union'', as renamed by the Lisbo ...

certification for inter-operability on high-speed rail systems. (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 a joint certification procedure between Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands. Over the night of 25–26 January 2013, a modified Vectron locomotive was tested in the

Channel Tunnel The Channel Tunnel (), sometimes referred to by the Portmanteau, portmanteau Chunnel, is a undersea railway tunnel, opened in 1994, that connects Folkestone (Kent, England) with Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais, France) beneath the English Channel at ...

. Certification for use in Austria was obtained in early 2013. Full certification for use in Sweden was obtained in April 2013, replacing a temporary certificate. The AC version received certification for Hungary in late 2013. 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), and in July 2014 the AC version was certified for use in Norway. The locomotives were released for operation in Turkey in November 2014.Siemens Vectron is Now Registered in Turkey: E87000
12. Dezember 2014 Preliminary certifications for some multisystem locomotives in the Czech Republic and Slovakia followed. A preliminary certification for some DC version locomotives in the Czech Republic was reported shortly after. The permanent authorizations for the MS and AC versions were granted in March 2015 for the Czech Republic and in May 2015 for Slovakia. In July 2015, the DC version was homologated for Italy. Since August 2015, the MS version is homologated for Poland. The homologation for Croatia and Slovenia was published in September 2015. Since February 2017, the MS version is homologated for Italy. A Siemens press release on the occasion of 500 sold locomotives revealed that homologations also exist for Bulgaria, Serbia and Switzerland. The MS version was homologated for the Netherlands in September 2017. The diesel engined version Vectron DE is homologated for use in Germany since September 2014,
www.siemens.com, 24 September 2014 for use in Turkey since November 2014 and for use in Austria since August 2015.

Homologation overview

Homologations which cannot be clearly assigned to the locomotive's electric system were assumed on the basis of neighboring countries and current systems and are given in brackets in the following table.

Orders

File:RAILPOOL 193 803 Harburg.JPG, Railpool ( Harburg, July 2013) File:MRCE 193 850 münchen 2013 2.JPG, MRCE (

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

, June 2013) File:TRAKO 2013 w Gdańsku – Siemens Vectron electric (DB).JPG, DB Schenker (Poland) (

Gdańsk Gdańsk is a city on the Baltic Sea, Baltic coast of northern Poland, and the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. With a population of 486,492, Data for territorial unit 2261000. it is Poland's sixth-largest city and principal seaport. Gdań ...

, September 2013) File:Hungary, Budapest, Ferencváros pu., D-Rpool Siemens Vectron 004.JPG,

Siemens Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational technology conglomerate. It is focused on industrial automation, building automation, rail transport and health technology. Siemens is the largest engineering company in Europe, and holds the positi ...

Vectron (August 2014) File:Clp 20140730 2068 91 80 6193 880-2 D-BOXX Essen Hbf.jpg, BoxXpress Vectron, (

Essen Essen () is the central and, after Dortmund, second-largest city of the Ruhr, the largest urban area in Germany. Its population of makes it the fourth-largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia after Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund, as well as ...

, July 2013) File:Czech train, Kiel ( 1060137).jpg, České dráhy (Kiel, July 2018) File:Flixtrain Departing Köln Hbf.jpg, Vectron in Flixtrain livery (

Köln Hbf Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...

Cologne Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...

, August 2020) File:NS Vectron.png, A

Vectron in NS livery and with four pantographs (April 2021) File:Sr3_locomotive_at_Kerava_railway_station_in_Finland,_2021_-_02.jpg, A Finnish Vectron Sr3 3301 at Kerava station in 2021. Note hump on the roof, lack of front air intakes and SA3 coupler File:DSB EB 3214 at Hamburg Hbf.jpg, DSB EB 3214, ( Hamburg Hbf, July 2023) File:Stiopa-Siemens Vectron.jpg,

Beacon A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location. A common example is the lighthouse, which draws attention to a fixed point that can be used to navigate around obstacles or into port. More mode ...

Vectron X4E (

Poznań Poznań ( ) is a city on the Warta, River Warta in west Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business center and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John's ...

,December 2024) File:Wien Hbf Zssk Vectron 383 101 (53492394463).jpg,

Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko, a.s. (ZSSK) (') is a Slovak state-owned passenger train company based in Bratislava. In 2002 a company Železničná spoločnosť was established as a successor of personal and cargo transport part of the ...

in Vienna

References

External links