September 24 - DB Schenker Rail and Alstom signed an agreement for the first European test fleet of switching locomotives equipped with hybrid drive system earlier this week at the InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin.
DB Schenker Rail subsidiary Mitteldeutsche Eisenbahngesellschaft (MEG), as part of a long-term testing program, is to lease five hybrid-switching locomotives from Alstom for deployment with Dow Olefinverbund GmbH in Schkopau and Böhlen.
The locomotive delivers a maximum power output of 600 kW with a small 250 kW diesel generator. Additional output is obtained from large batteries that are recharged by the generator during low-load periods. When operating in battery mode alone, the locomotive produces very little noise and is virtually vibration-free.
"In 2006 we presented our prototypes at InnoTrans - today, together with DB and MEG, we are pleased to be entering the next stage," said Klaus Hiller, head of service and locomotives at Alstom Transport in Germany.
