The FINANCIAL — Bombardier Transportation presented its new product platform for the locomotive sector at the Transport Logistic trade fair in Munich on May 9.
Alongside the BOMBARDIER TRAXX AC3 locomotive, which is powered by alternating current, the product platform is now complete with the introduction of new BOMBARDIER TRAXX MS3 (multi system) and DC3 (direct current) locomotives. While the MS3 can be used under the four voltages commonly found in Europe, the DC3 version can operate on direct current routes, for example in Italy and Poland. With the new locomotive platform, Bombardier now has the rail market’s most modern and comprehensive range of electric locomotives.
Michael Fohrer, President of Locomotives and Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation, says, “Our new locomotive platform offers operators suitable solutions for all electrification systems. The advantages are mainly in the areas of tractive power, economical and ecological operation and tailor-made service variants. Our new platform will enable operators to rely upon the Last Mile Feature across all of Europe, making it possible to bridge non-electrified track sections in harbours and borders as well as compensate for power failure.”
Compared to similar locomotives in their class, the new TRAXX locomotives will offer greater performance. They will be able to pull one additional carriage each and their degree of efficiency will be 1.9 per cent higher. This means that operators can save around 170,000 euro over the locomotive’s 30-year service life. Plus, an Ecomode can cut overall energy consumption by five per cent by switching off individual traction motors. The locomotives are also designed condition-based and modular maintenance which reduces downtime by making mechanical service faster and easier, according to Bombardier.
The new locomotives are based on the successful TRAXX platform, which has existed for 15 years and has some 1,750 currently in operation in Europe. In particular, the features of the MS3 and DC3 locomotives are derived from the TRAXX AC3 locomotive, of which more than 280 have been sold to date.
