A total of 100 new Toshiba hybrid locomotiveshave been ordered by Deutsche Bahn in an effort to renew its shunting locomotive fleet. DB Cargo has ordered the first 50 vehicles, while another 50 will be rented by the railway company. Preparations for assembly in the Rostock maintenance facility of DB Cargo will start in 2021.

In addition to significantly lower diesel consumption and lower maintenance costs, the hybrid vehicles enable a higher average fleet availability and thus also higher quality for customers. In addition, the battery modules can be charged externally right from the start, which further increases the share of renewable energies in rail freight transport.

Crucial technology

The 50 new hybrid locomotives will replace 61 old units and are part of the DB’s strategy “Strong Rail”, which focuses on rail freight growth. Sigrid Nikutta, DB Group Board Member for Freight Transport and DB Cargo commented: “Together with Toshiba, we are setting standards in a crucial future technology.

“The alternative operating concept will enable us to do the work in our marshalling yards more resource-efficiently in the future: we save 30 per cent energy and 1 million liter of diesel per year. Thanks to modern technology, the vehicles are also easier for our employees to operate. ”