Freight operator Railcare to receive seven Vectron locomotives

Freight operator Railcare has ordered seven Vectron locomotives from Siemens in a contract which includes maintenance of the locomotives for eight years.

Railcare is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coop, the Swiss retailer and wholesaler, and transports freight for daily needs within Switzerland with its own trains and trucks. With a top speed of 160 kilometres an hour, the 6.4-MW Vectron locomotives will be used to haul freight in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Vectron locomotives have a top speed of 160 kilometres an hour

All locomotives will be equipped with a diesel power module. With this option, the locomotive can operate for short stretches without overhead power lines, such as on sidings or while shunting in yards. By ordering the diesel power module, Railcare can do without operating supplementary shunting locomotives.

In addition to the locomotive order, Siemens will provide all maintenance work over an eight-year period.