Vossloh locomotives running on Hamburg to Westerland service
Total contract worth €130 million / 139 locomotives delivered in 2003Following a European-wide invitation to bid, Nord-Ostsee-Bahn GmbH (NOB), a company of the French Connex transportation group, has been awarded the contract for operating a rail service between Hamburg and Westerland, equivalent to some 4.6 million train kilometers annually. As from the new timetable mid-December 2005, NOB will start operations for (initially) a period of ten years.
Vossloh Locomotives GmbH will provide the locomotives for these trains. For the first time in the history of commuter rail transportation, the locomotives will not be bought but leased and operated under a traction providing agreement. This means providing at the dawn of each day fully serviced, fueled, and groomed locomotives.
In the first phase of the agreement, Vossloh Locomotives will operate twelve MaK DE 2700 units; in the second in late 2006, a number of completely redesigned locomotives will then enter service. These latter will set new standards in diesel engine construction, outputting around 3,000 kW and equipped with several eco-friendly features including active particle filters.
The NOB contract represents another challenge for Vossloh Locomotives. For the first time this company is shouldering responsibility for highly demanding day-to-day operations.
The complete contract is worth around €80 million for providing the locomotion over a period of ten years and another some €50 million for building the new locomotives.
The delivery of these 139 locomotives is a highlight of another record-breaking year for this Kiel-based company which originally had budgeted 122 for the fiscal period. When back in 1998 Vossloh acquired this company from Siemens, the annual output was a paltry 20 units. Since then, Vossloh Locomotives has had an exceptionally illustrious track record to become Europe's leading diesel locomotive builder. As to 2004, shipments of 155 are budgeted!
Kiel, December 29, 2003
For more information contact:
Vossloh Locomotives GmbH, Management,
Phone (+49-431) 3999-3650