Siemens Mobility receives order for 50 Vectron locomotives

Akiem, a leading European locomotive and passenger train leasing and maintenance company, has placed a firm order with Siemens Mobility for 10 Vectron Dual Mode (VDM) locomotives, with an option for 40 additional locomotives. This order is part of the framework agreement signed in August 2021 for the supply of locomotives and associated services. The first locomotives are due to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Steffen Bobsien, Siemens Mobility GmbH’s vice president of locomotives and coaches, said: “We are delighted that Akiem has again chosen Siemens Mobility and ordered 50 more Vectron locomotives to its fleet. We are especially pleased that the Vectron, with its modular design, will be making a significant contribution to rail services on electrified and on non-electrified lines in the Akiem fleet. We have now sold more than 2,700 Vectrons.”

Delivering a maximum power of 2.4MW in electric mode and 2MW in diesel mode, the ordered locomotives will be able to perform freight operations at speeds of up to 160km/h. They will be operated in Germany and Austria, with the possibility of expanding to other European countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria). The Vectron Dual Mode is designed to operate on both electrified and non-electrified routes; and by changing from electric mode to diesel mode, there is no need to switch locomotives.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently ‘flagged off’ the first of the new D9-9,000hp electric locomotives at Indian Railways’ factory in Dahod, Gujarat. Following the award to Siemens Mobility for the design, engineering, manufacturing and maintenance of 1,200 9,000hp electric locomotives, Siemens’ factories in Nashik, Aurangabad, and Mumbai have been manufacturing critical components for the project, with final assembly at the Indian Railways’ factory in Dahod, which was constructed in a record time of under two years.

Siemens Mobility said the 1,200 locomotives have the potential to replace up to 800,000 trucks and save over 800 million tons of CO₂ emissions over their lifecycle.