Vectron Dual Mode locomotives manufactured by Siemens Mobility have been authorized for cross-border operation between Germany and Austria.
After Germany, Austria is now the second country to grant authorization for this type of locomotive equipped with ETCS Baseline 3.6, using the Siemens On-board Trainguard Basic modular unit. The first two locomotives with dual authorization for both countries were handed over to the Austrian railway operator Stern & Hafferl Verkehr.
“We recognized the potential of Vectron Dual Mode locomotives right from the start and made a deliberate decision to adopt them. The recent national authorization in Austria and the complete handover of all six locomotives represent an important milestone for us. They enable efficient and uninterrupted operations right down to the last mile and make a significant contribution to environmentally friendly freight transport, with the aim of shifting even more traffic from road to rail and strengthening our region in a sustainable manner,” says Günter Neumann, CEO of Stern & Hafferl Verkehr.
Vectron Dual Mode locomotives enable emission-free operation on both electrified and non-electrified routes. This makes them a valuable solution for reducing emissions, especially in densely populated urban areas.
Vectron Dual Mode is based on proven components from the Vectron platform. The locomotive operates on a 1,435 mm gauge, has an operating weight of 90 tons, and is designed for 15 kV AC power supply systems. It also has a diesel tank capacity of 2,600 liters and a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h.
The locomotives are manufactured at the Siemens Mobility plant in Munich-Allach.
Stern & Hafferl Verkehr, an Austrian railway company, began operating Vectron Dual Mode locomotives in April 2023, using them for transport services between Gmunden and Ebensee.
The Vectron Dual Mode locomotive makes a concrete contribution to environmental protection. In Austria, diesel locomotives cover an average of 60–80% of journeys on electrified lines. This is where Stern & Hafferl Verkehr’s strategy comes in. On all electrified lines, the Vectron Dual Mode runs on electricity, and the diesel version is only used where necessary due to a lack of infrastructure. Even in this mode of operation, the vehicle remains very environmentally friendly.
Share on:
