GERMANY: Paribus Rail Investment Management has signed a framework agreement with Siemens Mobility for the supply and full-service maintenance of up to 30 Vectron Dual Mode electro-diesel locomotives, with a firm order for an initial seven.
The locos will be equipped for 15 kV 16·7 Hz electric and diesel operation with a 2 MW rating in both modes. They will have a maximum speed of 160 km/h, and will be fitted with the PZB train protection system.
Siemens Mobility will maintain the locomotives for up to 20 years.
The investment was arranged and structured by Paribus for private equity company RIVE Private Investment.
Paribus Group’s Northrail leasing business has already agreed rental contracts with German freight operators for the first seven locos, which are scheduled to be delivered from September.
‘The Vectron Dual Mode is an innovative investment in the future of rail freight transport’, said Gerhard Greiter, CEO for northeast Europe at Siemens Mobility, when the order was announced on June 29. ‘As a sustainable alternative to conventional diesel locomotives, the Vectron Dual Mode can flexibly switch from diesel to electric operation on electrified stretches.’
The long term maintenance contract would provided Paribus with optimised and planned life-cycle costs, he added.
In 2019 Paribus signed a framework agreement with Siemens Mobility for up to 25 Smartron electric locomotives, of which 16 have been ordered so far.
