Germany: The presentation of the pilot model took place at the German manufacturer’s Munich-Allach site and coincided with the opening of the new Rail Service Centre. The advanced locomotive is dubbed the Vectron X.
The renewed vehicle’s main feature is its boosted digitalisation. According to Siemens Mobility, the implemented system ensures near real-time transmission of rolling stock performance data. The solution aims to provide a shift to condition-based maintenance and decrease the number of faults. Meanwhile, the company has not yet officially unveiled the precise number of parameters that can be monitored.
In the driver’s cab of the Vectron X electric locomotive from Siemens Mobility. Source: Siemens Mobility
In addition, the locomotive control panel has been fitted with a 30-centimetre Smart Screen. It will enable the driver to keep track of the core parameters and also to have access to external applications available through the App Store. The driver is supposed to leverage applications currently used on smartphones or tablets, specifically route information data and an operator’s specific software. This is intended to facilitate the locomotive’s operation and the overall workflows.
Control panel of the Vectron X from Siemens Mobility. Source: Siemens Mobility
Another Vectron X’s new function allows the driver to activate the locomotive remotely, meaning that the vehicle can be prepared for operation before the driver enters the cab.
The Vectrons, used for freight as well as passenger transportation, have been produced at Siemens Mobility’s site in Munich-Allach since the 2010s. The manufacturer reports that around 3,000 locomotives of this platform have been sold so far, making the Vectron one of the most popular models in Europe, alongside the Traxx platform, which is now owned by Alstom after the acquisition of Bombardier Transportation.
The Vectrons are produced in several modifications for different current systems and include diesel and hybrid versions. In recent years, Siemens Mobility has been actively working on the battery-powered Vectron.
