JEMYN, an affiliate of Swiss rail freight operator Widmer Rail Services, has placed an order with Siemens Mobility for two Vectron electric locomotives. The locomotives will be equipped with batteries for last-mile operation, the first time Siemens has supplied this variant of the Vectron.
The battery module consists of a high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack, which Siemens says uses an intelligent battery management system to control charging and discharging. Development of the system was funded through the German federal government’s Future of Rail Transport programme, which aims to accelerate time to market for innovative rail solutions.
Delivery of the new locomotives to Widmer is scheduled for 2027.
“With its new battery power module, the Vectron is the ideal locomotive for us,” saysPierre Widmer, CEO of Widmer Rail Services. “Thanks to this functional package, we can now handle shunting operations even more efficiently without the assistance of additional shunting locomotives. This will enable us to further optimise our operating processes and save costs.”
