Swiss company SBB Cargo International, in collaboration with SüdLeasing, announced on July 19, 2024, the expansion of its rolling stock with the order of an additional twenty multisystem Vectron locomotives, equipped with Siemens Mobility’s XLoad package. This contract also includes the maintenance of the machines for a period of fifteen years, guaranteed by Siemens Mobility. The Vectron XLoad package is designed to enhance the traction capacity of the locomotives, allowing them to haul heavier and longer trains in single traction on the north-south axis of Switzerland. This innovation eliminates the need to use a second four-axle locomotive in double traction, increasing operational efficiency and reducing costs.
The Vectron locomotives, which offer a maximum speed of 160 km/h, will be delivered starting in 2026. This order is particularly significant for Italy, as maintenance will be carried out at the Rail Service Center in Novara. Pierfrancesco De Rossi, CEO of Siemens Mobility Italy, explains that "this is the fourth extension. We further consolidate the importance of our maintenance hub, which is already a crucial logistics support center for transalpine railway operations."
Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility, emphasized the importance of the order: "With this fleet expansion and the increased transport capacity provided by XLoad, our customer will be able to serve the Alpine region even more efficiently. This order brings the total number of Vectrons sold in Switzerland to 180.” Sven Flore, CEO of SBB Cargo International, added: "For us, Vectron is the ideal locomotive to provide interoperable service between the Netherlands and Italy. Moreover, the XLoad package will allow us to run longer and heavier trains in single traction through the Alps, eliminating the need to use a more expensive six-axle locomotive."
The twenty new locomotives will be used for transalpine transport, expanding SBB Cargo International’s fleet to a total of 78 Vectron units. The national authorizations will allow operation in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands, all equipped with the European Train Control System ETCS BL3 and the required national systems.
