Poland

More Vectron locomotives to run on Swiss mainlines

Author:
2022/07/19 at 1:31 PM

SBB Cargo, the Swiss national rail freight operator, is continuing to upgrade its locomotive fleet. A few weeks after placing an order by its international subsidiary, the railway undertaking has focused on the domestic market. To this end, it ordered a new batch of Vectron single-system locomotives.

Vectron locomotive painted in SBB Cargo livery, source: Siemens Mobility

SBB Cargo will add 35 Vectron AC locomotives from Siemens Mobility to its fleet in 2024. This is a result of the deal concluded between the Swiss railway undertaking, the Swiss private bank Reichmuth & Co and the German train builder, earlier this month. According to SBB Cargo, the new locomotives will be primarily used in the domestic market with some possible cross-border operations to Germany and Austria (both countries have the same electrification system as Switzerland does). All the ordered vehicles will be equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) BL3 as well as the required national train control systems.

Complicated deal

By adding more Vectron locomotives, SBB Cargo intends to keep pace with the growing demand for rail freight traffic in Switzerland. However, the railway undertaking decided to lease vehicles instead of purchasing them directly. According to the deal, Reichmuth & Co pays for the locomotives on behalf of Northrail, the Hamburg-based railway leasing company. The latter will rent the vehicles to SBB Cargo for eight years. The entire transaction was arranged and structured by Paribus Rail Investment Management. The lease also includes local maintenance of the locomotives by Siemens Mobility for eight years.

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