DB Cargo is currently conducting intensive trials of its new dual-mode locomotive, following its official unveiling in March 2024. Six locomotives are undergoing rigorous testing in Zwickau and Kreuztal, Germany, to evaluate their performance under real operating conditions before they are deployed.
This innovative locomotive integrates the capabilities of both electric and diesel shunting engines, enabling it to operate seamlessly on electrified and non-electrified rail lines. This versatility enhances its utility across Germany’s diverse rail network, supporting demanding shunting tasks and long-distance haulage.
The trials, slated to continue until the end of June, are rigorously testing the locomotives in various challenging scenarios, including heavy hauls, steep gradients, and extended journeys. The ability to switch effortlessly between electric and diesel modes is a focal point of the testing, highlighting the locomotive’s groundbreaking design. Furthermore, specific attention is given to shunting operations, addressing unique operational demands.
The insights gathered during these trials will inform further refinements to the locomotive design. Data collection and optimization efforts will persist until the trial’s conclusion in June. Upon successful completion, series production of the locomotives will commence in late summer 2024, aiming to have thirty dual-mode locomotives operational by year-end, with the full order of approximately 150 units scheduled for delivery by 2027.