EUROPE: Siemens announced a contract to supply 15 Vectron AC electric locomotives to leasing company Mitsui Rail Capital Europe on June 4. Deliveries are scheduled to begin by the end of the year.
The 6·4 MW locomotives with a top speed of 160 km/h are intended for cross-border operation between Germany, Austria and Hungary. They are to be fitted with the various national train protection systems, ETCS and pre-installed cabling for additional train protection systems. Some of the locomotives are to be pre-prepared for future 'very easy conversion' to multi-system operation.
MRCE has a fleet of around 300 locomotives, and it is the second leasing company to order the Vectron, following Railpool. 'The flexibility of the Vectron will provide us with a solid basis for a secure future', said CEO Tetsu Ikeda. 'Although precise forecasting throughout the whole of the locomotive life is very difficult to prepare, flexible vehicle concept with AC and multi-system locomotives is very effective. At this moment, the Vectron is the best solution to the company for this purpose.'
