Dortmunder Eisenbahn (DE), part of the Captrain Deutschland Group and Dortmunder Hafen, has taken delivery of a new Siemens Vectron dual-mode locomotive.
Leased from Alpha Trains, the locomotive was handed over by Stephan Wegert, Commercial Manager of Alpha Trains, to the Managing Directors of DE at a special ceremony at Siemens’ Rail Service Centre in Munich-Allach.
From the start of the new year, the locomotive will transport large pipes from Europipe’s plant in Mühlheim an der Ruhr to the inland port in Brake, Lower Saxony five times a week.
DE’s locomotive fleet will be strengthened further with the arrival of two more Vectron locomotives from Alpha Trains in January.
Captrain has chosen to lease these modern vehicles in order to reduce emissions and increase rail productivity. This is down to the fact the locomotives’ dual drive enables them to run on both electrified and non-electrified lines.
With a length of just under 20 metres and a maximum traction power at wheel rim of 2,400kW in e-mode and 2,000kW in diesel mode, the 4-axle vehicles can reach a top speed of up to 160km/h.
On electrified lines, they can be operated at a contact wire voltage of 15kV.
“With the first dual-power locomotive at Dortmunder Eisenbahn, Captrain is strengthening its position as a reliable logistics partner for industrial customers in the Ruhr region who want to make their supply chain even more flexible and lower in emissions.”
The Captrain Group has more than 200 locomotives, and as of December 2022, 13 of those in operation are dual-power locomotives.
Next year the group plans to add a further eight Stadler Eurodual and Siemens Vectron dual mode locomotives to this fleet.
