Designed for operation in 15 European countries, the very first Class 189 multi-system locomotive has today been handed over by Siemens TS to its customer, DB Cargo, at the InnoTrans fair. Taking part in the handover ceremony was Friedrich Smaxwil, Vice President of the Siemens TS Group with responsibility for locomotives, among other things, and Dr. Karl-Friedrich Rausch, Vice President Engineering at German Rail (DB AG). The latest EuroSprinter, which DB Cargo plans to use for heavy-duty freight traffic, is designed to operate in two AC and two DC systems. The locomotive is equipped with the necessary pantographs to enable it to run across the conventional line voltage borders of Europe. The train protection systems required for service in those other European countries can be retrofitted. This truly "European locomotive" by Siemens, of which DB Cargo has ordered 100, consequently opens up new perspectives for greater flexibility and economy in cross-border rail traffic.

From the far north of Sweden and Norway to the southern tip of Italy, and from the French Atlantic coast across to Poland's eastern border: this is the pan-European field of operation of the Class 189. The size of the order placed in August 1999, which exercises an option to follow up on the procurement of the Class 152 units, is worth approximately EUR300 million. The new EuroSprinter is being built at Siemens' locomotive works in Munich.

The locomotive is just as capable of operating in AC systems with 15 kV 16.7 Hz (Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland) and 25 kV 50 Hz (Denmark, Hungary, Luxembourg, northern France), and as it is in DC systems with 3 kV (Belgium, Italy, Poland,) and 1.5 kV (the Netherlands, southern France), or even in mixed systems (Czech and Slovak Republics). This locomotive, which can be equipped with up to four pantographs, produces a rated power of 6400 kW in AC systems, 6000 kW in a 3 kV DC system, and 4200 kW in a 1.5 kV DC system. Weighing 87 metric tons, the Class 189 is designed for a maximum speed of 140 kph (230 kph optional).

In order to create enough space in the engine compartment to accommodate the extra DC voltage components and train protection systems, the high-speed circuit-breaker, system selector switch, and surge arrestor have been mounted on the roof. Furthermore, compact IGBT traction converters are used. The comprehensive range of equipment was arranged to produce space and weight savings that even made it possible to provide three spare spaces in the engine compartment for train protection systems. In this way, up to three different line-specific equipment versions are on board, along with antenna mounts for the various items of train protection equipment.

The pan-European application of this four-system locomotive requires a high degree of flexibility from the signal light equipment, too. The various levels of luminous intensity and the different colors for signal lights and taillights are achieved with LED technology. This offers a number of advantages: extremely low failure probability; different luminous intensities made possible by simply switching groups of LEDs on or off; integration of white, red, and green signal lights in one lamp unit; and low losses through heat generation. Siemens has filed a patent application for the combination of LED signal lights, lens lamps, and high-beam headlights used on the Class 189.

Three pilot series locomotives are to be made available to DB Cargo as early as the beginning of next year for trial operation and the pending certification runs outside Germany. Delivery of the production units is set to begin in May 2003 and be concluded in December 2005, with an average of three locomotives being delivered each month.

Siemens' EuroSprinters have been operating in the high-performance sector since 1992. The modular locomotives of this type, whose second generation also includes the Class 152 of German Rail and the Rh 1016/1116 (Taurus) of the Austrian Federal Railway (ÖBB), are designed for the most varied of applications. The concept is based on a pool of service-proven components and prefabricated assemblies. Designed to meet specific requirements, this locomotive combines low purchase cost, short delivery times, high levels of reliability, and reduced life cycle costs. Around 900 EuroSprinter locomotives have been delivered or ordered so far.

Photo reference:
Pictures can be seen in the Internet under http://www.siemens.com/ts-pictures/034

Siemens AG
Corporate Communications
Press Office
D-80312 Munich
Germany Information number:
TSLM200209.035 e

Press Office Transportation Systems
Dr. Joachim Stark
P.O. Box 3240,
D-91050 Erlangen, Germany
Tel.: +49-9131-7 24129;
Fax: -7 24599;
E-mail: joachimstark@siemens.com