Siemens Mobility has received its first order for Vectron locomotives equipped with a battery module. The battery module enables the Vectron to operate for short distances without an overhead power line, offering an environmentally friendly way to cover the so-called last mile of service and perform shunting without an overhead line. The energy required for this is provided by a high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack with an intelligent battery management system to control charging and discharging. The development of this functional package was funded as part of the federal program “Future of Rail Freight Transport”, which aims to rapidly bring rail innovations to the market that strengthen competitiveness and logistics capabilities.
JeMyn AG, a subsidiary of Widmer Rail Services AG, has ordered the two Vectron locomotives with battery power modules. Financing for the deal was secured at an early stage through a structured financing solution agreed with its partner bank, Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft. The locomotives are scheduled for delivery in 2027.
“We are delighted to further expand our Vectron fleet with Widmer Rail Services AG and would like to thank them for their trust in our locomotive platform. With the battery power module, our customers can now cover all their operating routes electrically and with batteries, further reducing CO2 emissions in rail transport. For our customers, this development adds another innovative functional package to the successful Vectron family,” said A. Rodenbeck, CEO of Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility.
“With its new battery power module, the Vectron is the ideal locomotive for us. 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 optimize our operational processes and save costs,” said P. WIDMER, CEO of Widmer Rail Services AG. “We are pleased to actively contribute to sustainable rail transport with our structured financing solution and to support JeMyn AG and Widmer Rail Services AG in their business development,” said P. Von Flüe of Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft.
Environmental aspects and the importance of the last mile
The unique modularity of the Vectron equipment offers operators maximum flexibility for their operations, even in the absence of overhead power lines. The battery power module eliminates the need for electric or diesel shunting locomotives, which not only makes economic sense, but is also beneficial for the environment. The new functional package marks an important step towards providing sustainable rail transport, as it helps reduce emissions and noise pollution.
Facts and figures on the Vectron platform
With the latest order, Siemens Mobility has sold more than 2,600 locomotives of the Vectron family to 103 customers in 16 countries. To date, the Vectron fleet has traveled a total of more than one billion kilometers and is proving its efficiency in daily operations. Locomotives from the Vectron family have received operational approval in 20 European countries (From: Siemens Mobility Press Release, February 5, 2025).