Vectron (locomotive)

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.). 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. 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. ==Variants==

Vectron MS in the Netherlands The Vectron MS is the multi-system (MS) version of the family, which supports both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) systems including 25 kV 50 Hz~, 15 kV 16.7 Hz~, 3 kV= and 1.5 kV= from overhead catenary. It has a maximum power output of 6,400 kW (~)/6,000 kW (3 kV=)/3,500 kW (1.5 kV=) and a top speed of 230 km/h (with Vectron 230 Package), 200 km/h (with Vectron 200 package) or 160 km/h (baseline). The Vectron MS is mainly designed for cross-border and cross-system services between different countries and railway systems on major corridors. It is designated as Class 193 in Germany, Class 1293 in Austria and Class 384 in Czech Republic. Vectron AC in Germany The Vectron AC is the alternating current (AC) version of the family. It supports 25 kV 50 Hz~ and 15 kV 16.7 Hz~ from overhead catenary. The Vectron AC is mainly designed to operate in countries with AC driven railway systems like Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. It is designated as Class 193 in Germany, Class 1193 in Austria and Class EB by the DSB in Denmark. Vectron AC high power The high power variant has a maximum power output of 6,400 kW and a top speed of 200 km/h (with Vectron 200 package) or 160 km/h (baseline). Vectron AC low power The low power variant has a maximum power output of 5,600 kW and a top speed of 160 km/h. Vectron DC in Poland The Vectron DC is the direct current (DC) version of the family, which supports 3 kV= and 1.5 kV= from overhead catenary. It has a maximum power output of 5,200 kW and a top speed of 160 km/h or 200 km/h (with Vectron 200 package). The Vectron DC is mainly designed to operate in countries with DC driven railway systems like Italy, Belgium and Poland. It is designated as Class 191 in Germany and Italy, Class 170 in Poland. Smartron The Smartron is a pre-configured version based on the Vectron AC. it supports 25 kV 50 Hz~ and 15 kV 16.7 Hz~ systems and has a reduced operating weight of 83 tonnes and a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h. It is designed to only operate freight services specified in Germany, Romania and Bulgaria and lowering the cost by removing irrelevant packages and multi-system based equipment. Therefore are no customer specified options available. The Smartron is delivered in a standardized “capriblue” (RAL 5019) color. It is designated as Class 192 in Germany and Romania, Class 080 in Bulgaria. Vectron DE The Vectron DE is the diesel powered version of the family. It has a MTU 16V 4000 R84 diesel engine which has a power output of 2,700 kW. The operational top speed is 160 km/h. The Vectron DE is designed to operate mainline services on non-electrified track segments. It is designated as Class 247 in Germany. Vectron Dual Mode Diesel The Vectron Dual Mode Diesel is the first dual-mode variant of the family. It supports the 15 kV 16.7 Hz~ electrical system with 2,400 kW output and has a MTU 16V 4000 R84 diesel motor that supports maximum 2,000 kW of output. The maximum operating speed is 160 km/h. The Vectron Dual Mode is designed to operate passenger/cargo services on a mix of both electrified and non-electrified track segments. It is designated as Class 248 in Germany and Class 3193 in Austria. Vectron Dual Mode Light in Germany The Vectron Dual Mode Light is the second dual-mode variant of the family. It supports the 15 kV 16.7 Hz~ electrical system with 2,210 kW output and has a Cummins Stage V QST30-L diesel motor that supports maximum 750 kW of output. The maximum operating speed is 120 km/h. The Vectron Dual Mode Light is mainly designed for light-loaded shunting works in the yards and limited mainline operation between depots. It is designated as Class 249 in Germany. Vectron Dual Mode Electric/Battery The Vectron Dual Mode Electric/Battery is the third dual-mode variant of the family. It supports the 15 kV 16.7 Hz~ electrical system with 2,400 kW output and has batteries that support maximum 2,400 kW of output. The maximum operating speed is 160 km/h. The Vectron Dual Mode is designed to operate passenger/cargo services on a mix of both electrified and non-electrified track segments. ==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 in 2012, the DC Vectron version also was homologated for use in Poland in 2012, and the design received European community 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. 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. 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, 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, June 2013) File:TRAKO 2013 w Gdańsku – Siemens Vectron electric (DB).JPG|DB Schenker (Poland) (Gdańsk, September 2013) File:Hungary, Budapest, Ferencváros pu., D-Rpool Siemens Vectron 004.JPG|Siemens Vectron (August 2014) File:Clp 20140730 2068 91 80 6193 880-2 D-BOXX Essen Hbf.jpg|BoxXpress Vectron, (Essen, 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, August 2020) File:NS Vectron.png|A Siemens 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 Vectron X4E (Poznań, December 2024) File:Wien Hbf Zssk Vectron 383 101 (53492394463).jpg|Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko in Vienna ==See also==