With momentum into the new year: Vectron receives authorization for passenger service at up to 230 km/h
Equipped with Siemens Trainguard 200, including ETCS Baseline 3.6 and national train control systems.
www.siemens.com
Siemens Mobility’s Vectron locomotive has received authorization from the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) for passenger service at speeds of up to 230 km/h. This makes Vectron the first modern locomotive with the corresponding authorization. It covers Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary – Denmark is in preparation and is expected to follow at a later date. The first operator to benefit from the approval is the Czech rail company České dráhy (ČD). The company ordered 50 Vectron MS multisystem locomotives in early 2022; deliveries are already underway. Entry into service is planned from January 1, 2026.
“This authorization sets a new benchmark: Vectron is the first modern locomotive authorized for passenger service at speeds of up to 230 km/h,” said Steffen Bobsien, Vice President Locomotives and Passenger Coaches at Siemens Mobility. “We are proud of this achievement, as it significantly expands the application range of our proven platform in international passenger transport and gives operators new options for fast cross-border services.”
The locomotives are equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) Baseline 3.6. The vehicles use Siemens Mobility’s Trainguard 200 ETCS on-board unit (OBU). In addition, they include the respective national train protection systems required to operate in the authorized countries. Thanks to the Vectron’s modular platform approach, the speed range could be expanded with minimal effort. The most significant technical change is an adjustment to the gear ratio.
To date, Siemens Mobility has sold more than 2,800 Vectron locomotives to over 110 customers, and the fleet has covered around 1.3 billion kilometers in service. Locomotives based on the Vectron platform have been approved for operation in 20 European countries.
www.mobility.siemens.com
