SBB Cargo renews fleet and leases 35 new Vectron locomotives

To renew its vehicle fleet, SBB Cargo AG is leasing 35 modern Vectron mainline locomotives from manufacturer Siemens Mobility. The lease begins in 2024 and lasts for eight years. The new locomotives guarantee high vehicle availability and thus high transport quality in domestic freight transport.

(Olten) A renewal of the fleet at SBB Cargo is necessary as the portfolio of older mainline locomotives will reach its economic and technical end of service in the coming years. To remain strategically flexible, SBB Cargo has opted for leasing locomotives. This will be done through the lessor NorthRail in collaboration with the Swiss bank Reichmuth AG. NorthRail and Reichmuth will lease the locomotives to SBB Cargo for eight years. The lease agreement also includes the maintenance of the vehicles for the same duration, which Siemens will carry out for SBB Cargo. The vehicles will be manufactured at the Siemens Mobility plant in Munich-Allach and delivered in 2024.

The Vectron locomotive from Siemens Mobility is a modern and well-proven locomotive. It has been ordered over 1,400 times to date. The locomotives have covered more than 585 million fleet kilometers – in over a dozen European countries. There is thus a high level of standardization. The Vectron locomotives are designed for a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h. The new vehicles for SBB Cargo are equipped with the European train control system ETCS BL3 as well as the necessary national train control systems.

Increasing the reliability of the most important working tool

“With the Vectron mainline locomotives, we can increase the reliability of our most important working tool and thus further enhance the quality for our customers,” says Désirée Baer, CEO of SBB Cargo. “Moreover, thanks to the lease, we remain strategically flexible. Additionally, there are synergies in operation and experience in our maintenance, as this locomotive is already in use at SBB Cargo International.”

Siemens Mobility is also pleased: “That we are once again allowed to deliver locomotives for Switzerland confirms the high reliability and performance of our Vectron platform,” says Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock of Siemens Mobility.

Adjusting fleet strategy to the direction of domestic freight transport

SBB Cargo will further develop its long-term fleet strategy depending on political decisions regarding the future direction of domestic freight transport in Switzerland. With the new locomotives, SBB Cargo is investing in high vehicle availability and thus in the transport quality in domestic freight transport. This way, the high customer demands for quality can be met.

Photo: © Siemens Mobility