MRCE orders 15 Vectron locomotives

At the beginning of June the locomotive leasing company Mitsui Rail Capital Europe (MRCE) placed an order with Siemens for the delivery of 15 Vectron AC locomotives. The first locomotives from the Siemens locomotive plant in Munich-Allach, Germany, will be handed over to the customer before the end of the year. This order makes MRCE the second leasing company to choose the new Vectron generation.

Summarizing the reasons for his firm’s decision, Tetsu Ikeda, CEO of Mitsui Rail Capital Europe, said, “We are happy to have concluded a new agreement with Siemens for the Vectron locomotives after our thorough evaluation on quality, reliability, price and service record. The flexibility of the Vectron will provide us with a solid basis for a secure future. Although precise forecast throughout the whole of the locomotive life is very difficult to prepare, flexible vehicle concept with AC and MS locomotives is very effective. At this moment, the Vectron is the best solution to the company for this purpose.”

“We are delighted with this shown confidence, and are certain that with the Vectron we will be able to satisfy all the high expectations for a sustainable solution for the future,” said Karl-Hermann Klausecker, CEO Locomotives and Components of Siemens Rail Systems.

The vehicles ordered are intended for cross-border operation between Germany and Austria or between Germany, Austria and Hungary. In addition to the national train protection systems, all locomotives will be equipped with the European train control system (ETCS). The vehicles will have maximum power of 6,400 kW and a top speed of 160 km/h.

Some of the locomotives will be equipped with an MS upgrade preparation package that will allow very easy conversion into a multi-system locomotive at a later date. The cabling for additional train protection systems is likewise already on board.

MRCE provides full-service leasing of locomotives in Europe, where it has a fleet of around 300 locomotives. The product offered by MRCE is special as it combines leasing with maintenance management of locomotives. MRCE is a European subsidiary of the Japanese Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and has its offices in Amsterdam and Munich.